Iran suggests new obstacles hinder nuclear deal after Russian interruption

Reuters -March 10th 2022

DUBAI/VIENNA, March 10 (Reuters) – Tehran on Thursday suggested there were new obstacles to an agreement on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal just as Western powers were grappling with last-minute Russian demands that threatened to torpedo otherwise largely completed talks.

A week ago preparations were being made in Vienna for a weekend meeting to conclude an agreement bringing Iran back into compliance with the deal’s restrictions on its rapidly advancing nuclear activities and bringing the United States back into the accord it left in 2018 by re-imposing sanctions on Tehran.

Then last Saturday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov unexpectedly demanded sweeping guarantees that Russian trade with Iran would not be affected by sanctions imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine – a demand Western powers say is unacceptable and Washington has insisted it will not entertain. read more

Russia’s demand initially angered Tehran and appeared to help it and Washington move towards agreement on the few remaining thorny issues, diplomats said, but a sudden volley of public comments by Iranian officials including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Thursday suggested the wind had turned.

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https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-says-us-desire-quick-accord-shows-it-has-no-will-strong-deal-2022-03-10/