Logvinov: European Union’s anti-Russian trend complicates the solution of international problems

BRUSSELS, 7 March – RIA Novosti. Acting Russian Ambassador to the EU, Kirill Logvinov, in an interview with RIA Novosti, said that the European Union’s anti-Russia stance makes it difficult to successfully resolve all international issues diplomatically, including Iran’s nuclear dossier.

At the same time, he does not believe that such a trajectory has become “decisive in the European countries’ decision to ‘stop’ the KOEP negotiations.”

In 2015, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, Russia, the United States, France and Iran signed a nuclear agreement called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (COEP), which includes lifting sanctions in exchange for limiting Iran’s nuclear program. In May 2018, the US withdrew from the JCPOA under the leadership of President Donald Trump and reinstated sanctions against Tehran. In response, Iran announced a gradual reduction in its obligations under the agreement, waiving restrictions on nuclear research, centrifuges and the level of uranium enrichment.

Negotiations were held in Vienna to renew the JCPOA and to lift Washington’s sanctions on Tehran. In December 2021, the parties agreed on two draft agreements, in which the European side also included the positions of Iran. Iran spokesman Bagheri Kyani said talks were going well, but US State Department spokesman Ned Price rated the progress in Vienna as modest, urging Tehran to take the issue seriously.