JCPOA Revival, Removal of Sanctions Iran’s Priority: Foreign Minister

The top Iranian diplomat and his entourage held a meeting with the chairman and members of the Russian State Duma’s international relations committee as well as the Dumas’s vice speaker in Moscow on Wednesday.

In the gathering, attended by 12 prominent members of the committee, the head of the Russia-Iran Parliamentary Friendship Group, the vice-speaker of the Russian State Duma and a number of directors of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the two sides jointly underlined the need to use the potential of their parliamentary diplomacy to strengthen cooperation, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s website.

They also exchanged views on various areas in which Iran and Russia can cooperate at bilateral, regional and international levels.

The Iranian foreign minister said mutual ties are on the right track and that all things are progressing well.

He also voiced pleasure with the close interaction between the presidents of the two countries, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Tehran was an important development and that the meetings and discussions held between the officials of the two countries led to the progress and diversification of the relations in various bilateral, regional and international fields.

Amirabdollahian noted that the parliamentary diplomacy plays an important role in strengthening the relations between Tehran and Moscow, adding that the joint high parliamentary commission of the two countries is a very good framework to help bolster bilateral ties.

On the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Amirabdollahian said the revival of the agreement and the adherence of all parties to the deal and the full lifting of anti-Iran sanctions are a priority for Tehran.

He noted that Iran acted responsibly in this regard and proved its commitment to negotiations for the revival of the nuclear deal, but it was the US that failed in making a decision in this respect.

He then reaffirmed the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear activities, saying, “We had forward-moving talks with Mr. Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and we want an end to baseless claims about Iran's peaceful nuclear activities within the framework of these talks.”

In the meeting, Slotsky, head of the foreign relations commission of the Duma, referred to the recent visit of Valodin, speaker of the Russian Duma, to Tehran and the joint meeting for high parliamentary cooperation between the two countries, noting that the parliaments of Iran and Russia are engaged in good cooperation and it is necessary to use this potential to strengthen bilateral relations.

He added that Putin's aide will soon travel to Tehran for talks over the ways to boost cooperation between Iran and Russia.

Slotsky also said Russia pays great attention to the important issues pertaining to bilateral relations and cooperation, especially the North-South Corridor. He maintained that it is necessary to complete this corridor, especially the Rasht-Astara section, through joint cooperation.

He further described the North-South Corridor as the biggest project of the century and added that the current negotiations in Moscow in the presence of Iran's deputy minister of roads is a good opportunity to remove the remaining obstacles.

The legislative official underlined that the Russian Duma will do its best to help boost ties in all spheres.

The head of the foreign relations commission of the Russian Duma pointed to the accusations made by the Ukrainian and some other western governments about the use of Iranian drones against Ukraine. Slotsky said Ukraine, the US and Europe have no damning proof that would show Iranian drones are used in the Ukraine war and they use this accusation only as an excuse to achieve their other political goals.

He also hailed the agreement on the resumption of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia as a historic development that has a positive impact on the security of the entire region, noting that Russia supports it.

In the meeting, the latest state of bilateral cooperation in the Caspian Sea as well as in the energy and other fields were discussed.