Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov voiced Moscow’s readiness to facilitate indirect contacts between Iran and the US on the 2015 nuclear deal.
A meeting of the JCPOA’s Joint Commission will be held in Vienna on Tuesday, with the European Union serving as coordinator of the Joint Commission, Sputnik news agency reported, referring to the official name of the nuclear deal, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
The EU’s foreign affairs service is expected to serve as the contact point between Iran and the US, but according to Ulyanov, “this does not negate the possibility and necessity of contacts in other formats, without bothering the EU representative. We will make an effort to facilitate [discussions] depending on how events develop, where it is necessary”, the diplomat told the Russian news agency.
Ulyanov also confirmed that no direct contacts between the Iranian and US side are planned.
“There will be no direct contacts at all between Iran and US representatives. The Iranians, having suffered from sanctions, are not ready for direct communication, at least at this stage”, he said.
The senior diplomat reiterated that Russia, as a party to the JCPOA, is interested in the agreement’s complete restoration, and is prepared to take “all the necessary steps that will facilitate reaching concrete agreements”.
Source: Sputnik news agency
