Moscow (TDI): Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s top advisor on nuclear matters, Ali Larijani, called on Russia’s President Putin in the Kremlin on Sunday, to discuss the state of Iran’s nuclear program.
In this meeting, dubbed a ‘surprise,’ Larijani briefed on the regional situation and on Iran’s nuclear program, while Putin reaffirmed Russia’s position of “the political solution” to Iran’s nuclear issue.
Moscow continues to maintain a cordial relationship with Iran’s leadership even though it could not back Iran fully during last month’s joint attacks by Israel and the United States.
This meeting holds significance as it comes in the backdrop of the upcoming, as confirmed by some news outlets, nuclear talks between Iran and E3, which comprise the UK, Germany, and France.
These three European countries have threatened Iran with reinstating sanctions if it does not resume nuclear talks. The last round of these talks happened amidst active military confrontation between Iran and Israel, last month.
Read More: Germany, France, UK Prepare for Renewed Nuclear Dialogue with Iran
However, Iran’s Foreign Minister has called out the E3, saying the bloc has no political, moral, and legal basis for invoking the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and UNSC’s resolution 2231, particularly after the US attacks and E3’s support of the same.
JCPOA was signed between Iran, EU and the permanent five members of the Security Council, in 2015. This agreement, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, limited Iran’s nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.
However, the US unilaterally backed off and withdrew from the agreement during the previous Trump presidency.
This is what Araghchi referred to in his recent criticism of E3 and EU for reneging on their commitment and losing any legal and moral ground for threatening sanctions.
Last week, Russia criticized a story by US news outlet, Axios, that said Putin had encouraged Iran to accept a deal with the US which would prevent the country from enriching uranium.
Iran continues to defend its “legitimate rights” of having peaceful nuclear energy while consistently denying seeking a nuclear weapon.
