Russian FM rejects Netnayahu claims on Iran nuclear statement
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has dismissed the Israeli prime minister’s latest claims against Iran, saying the recent statement between Tehran and the P5+1 countries on the Iranian nuclear program will not lead to an arms race.
"There are no reasons for an arms race," Lavrov, whose country is involved in the negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 countries on Tehran’s nuclear program, said in an interview with Russia’s official news organization Rossiya Segodnya on Monday.
Iran and the P5+1 states – the US, France, Britain, Russia and China plus Germany – issued a joint statement at the end of eight days of sensitive nuclear negotiations in the Swiss city of Lausanne on April 2.
The two sides will now work on drawing up a final accord by the end of the self-designated June 30 deadline.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday once again criticized the joint statement by Iran and the P5+1 group as a "bad deal" that will endanger Tel Aviv’s survival and increase the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.
Lavrov dismissed the allegation and said, "Iran will be the most checked and inspected country if the principles agreed in Lausanne are transferred into the language of practical agreements."
Russia's top diplomat also blamed the United States and Europe for delays in securing the mutual understanding between Iran and the six countries in Lausanne last week.
Lavrov further said that the removal of sanctions against Iran would also help Russia because it would allow Tehran to pay in full for deals with Russia's nuclear agency, Rosatom.
According to the joint statement, no Iranian nuclear facility will be shut down or suspended, while all sanctions against the Islamic Republic will be lifted.
The joint statement also emphasized that Iran's Fordow nuclear facility will be turned into a research center for nuclear science and physics. It also said the heavy water reactor in the city of Arak will remain in place, but will be redesigned and upgraded.
Iran will implement the Additional Protocol temporarily and voluntarily in line with its confidence-building measures and after that, the protocol will be ratified within a time frame by the Iranian government and Parliament (Majlis).
SF/GHN/HMV
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