Signing Iran Nuclear Deal Should Run Parallel to Sanctions Relief – Moscow

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov explained why Washington and Tehran keep making contradicting statements after the agreement on Iran’s nuclear program was reached in Lausanne.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The United Nations Security Council should start lifting economic sanctions against Iran at the same time as the P5+1 group sits down with Iran to sign a final deal on its nuclear program, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Friday:

"We adhere to our view that the lifting of Iran sanctions stipulated by the UN Security Council resolution should run parallel to signing of the [nuclear] agreement. But it does not mean that all sanctions will be removed altogether. What sanction are to be removed or suspended and in what sequence continues to be a matter of debate.”

Ryabkov stressed that the lack of agreement on these issues explains why Washington and Tehran keep making contradicting statements after the agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program was reached in Lausanne.

On Thursday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in the interview with Iran’s Press TV that Tehran would refuse to sign the final agreement on its nuclear program reached by the P5+1 Group if sanctions against Iran were not fully lifted.

The United States insists that the removal of Iran sanctions must come in phases.

On April 2, the P5+1 group of countries, which include the United States, France, China, Russia and the United Kingdom plus Germany, reached an interim framework agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program by agreeing on a number of key issues that had previously obstructed the deal.