Russia’s Permanent Representative to the Vienna-based International Organizations said that the Western draft resolution on Iran is senseless and will have no positive effect on IAEA-Tehran relations.
“Indeed, the Western draft resolution on Iran is senseless because it by definition will have no positive effect on relations between the IAEA and Tehran,” Mikhail Ulyanov wrote in a tweet in reaction to the phone call held between the Iranian and Russian foreign ministers during which the Russian top diplomat reaffirmed his country’s definite opposition to the resolution drafted by the US and the European troika at the IAEA’s board.
“If Western states want to send a signal about the need for closer interaction (which Russia supports), it can be done orally,” Ulyanov added.
In another tweet, Ulyanov announced that the Iranian issue will be discussed by the IAEA Board of Governors most likely on Wednesday.
“If next week the #IAEA BoG adopts the Western resolution on Iran, the prospects of successful completion of the Vienna Talks and restoration of JCPOA will become more elusive. If EU wants to reach an agreement, it should (instead of a res.) undertake extra diplomatic efforts,” he cited in a separate tweet.
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It was earlier reported that, Russia will vote against a draft resolution condemning Iran if it is put to the vote at the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Russia’s Permanent Representative to the Vienna-based international organizations Mikhail Ulyanov said on Friday.
“There should be no illusion. If a draft resolution on Iran is tabled in the IAEA Board of Governors, Russia will vote against,” he wrote on his Twitter account. “There is no need for a resolution which would be not only senseless but extremely detrimental. Let’s better count on diplomacy.”
Ulyanov said on March 4 that the United Kingdom, France, and Germany had officially refused to put their draft resolution criticizing Iran for voting by the IAEA Board of Governors. According to the Iranian foreign ministry, the draft was abandoned thanks to the efforts of Iran, Russia, and China.
The Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) has had several offline meetings in Vienna since April to find ways to restore the nuclear deal in its original form. The sides discuss prospects for the United States’ possible return to the deal, steps needed to ensure full compliance with the deal’s terms by Iran, and issues of lifting the anti-Iranian sanctions.
