2024 RT Amination Banner.gif

China Daily

Asia Pacific> Asia News> Content
Tuesday, February 12, 2019, 10:30
Russian diplomat lashes out at EU for 'dual approaches' to Iran
By Xinhua
Tuesday, February 12, 2019, 10:30 By Xinhua

This June 28, 2014 photo shows Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov leaving at the end of a press conference in Damascus during an official visit in the Syrian capital. (LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)

MOSCOW - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Monday criticized the European Union for its "dual approaches" to Iran.

The EU must rise above its dual approaches when they try not to annoy the Americans, and to do something so that Iran sees real efforts, and to make the right choice by deciding in favor of real cooperation

RIA Novosti news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying

"The EU must rise above its dual approaches when they try not to annoy the Americans, and to do something so that Iran sees real efforts, and to make the right choice by deciding in favor of real cooperation," RIA Novosti news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying.

READ MORE: Russia may ban more US politicians over sanctions

Speaking to reporters in Iran's embassy in Moscow, Ryabkov said the EU and a number of its members have applied sanctions to Iran against the rules of international law and UN Security Council's resolutions.

He said the demands of European countries to reduce or close the Iranian missile program resulted from their "desire to please the Americans."

Russia finds it unacceptable and will explain the "fallacy and harmfulness" of such a course at a meeting of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) expected in March, he said.

The commission restricts Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for the easing of the sanctions on the Islamic republic.

Meanwhile, Ryabkov recalled that European countries have taken certain steps to create conditions for normal economic cooperation with Iran, including the INSTEX mechanism.

Last week, the EU announced the setting up of INSTEX (Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges) by Britain, Germany and France to secure trade with Iran and skirt US anti-Iran sanctions after Washington pulled out of the 2015 landmark Iranian nuclear deal last May.

ALSO READ: Russia warns US against deploying new missiles to Europe

"Our position, if described briefly and concisely, can be reduced to a phrase that something is better than nothing," Ryabkov said.

On the other hand, he noted that the authors of this mechanism could not ensure its opening for third countries, first of all, for Russia and others who are interested in legal cooperation with Iran.

Russia will seek full-fledged participation in the activities of this mechanism and continue relevant efforts in direct contacts with the countries concerned, Ryabkov added.  

Share this story

CHINA DAILY
HONG KONG NEWS
OPEN
Please click in the upper right corner to open it in your browser !