US Implementing Iranian Nuclear Deal 'Very Badly' - Moscow

The US authorities are implementing their obligations under the Iranian nuclear deal "very badly," the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control, Mikhail Ulyanov, told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

VIENNA (Sputnik) – The introduction of new US sanctions against Iran over its controversial ballistic missile program is unfounded and could harm the implementation of the Iran nuclear deal, Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Mikhail Ulyanov said Thursday.

"In the appendix to the agreement, which is known as the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan, there, indeed, is a call for Iran to refrain from launching ballistic missiles, but, firstly, it is just an appeal, not an obligation. Sanctions for failing to comply with this call are ridiculous," Ulyanov told RIA Novosti.

"And, secondly, if you look closely at the language of the relevant provisions — this is Appendix B to the plan of the UN Security Council resolution — it is only about missiles that are specifically designed in such a way as to be able to deliver weapons of mass destruction. No one has been able so far to prove that the missiles that Iran tested had been specially designed in that way and, therefore, the cause for any punishment is non-existent," the Russian diplomat stressed.

"There are certain ‘rules of the game' which must be adhered to, even when you are such a big and powerful state as the United States. The nuclear deal envisaged some steps by Iran, which it implements in good faith, and reciprocal steps by the ‘group of six’ of western and eastern countries. The US side is implementing its part of the deal very badly," Ulyanov said.

According to Ulyanov, the additional unfounded sanctions would only harm the implementations of the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan.