Region’s peace and stability depends on Iran: Russian MP

Moscow – A senior Russian lawmaker says the Middle East peace and stability depends on Iran.

“Under the condition that the US is putting too much pressure on Iran, still the country will remain a big player and the regional peace and stability is dependent on its policies,” Leonid Slutski, head of the Russian Duma (parliament) Foreign Relations Committee told the media on Sunday, IRNA reported.

He made the remarks after Iran announced the second phase of reduction of its nuclear commitments in response to the EU’s failure to live up to its obligations.

The Iranian government announced on Sunday that it will enrich uranium higher than the agreed 3.67% under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Tehran says it will enrich as much as it needs to meet the internal nuclear demands.

“The Iranian decision to enrich uranium is a result of the US provocative move,” said the Russian lawmaker.

“Iran’s motivation and reason is totally understandable. This is the result of big planned provocative actions,” added Slutski.

He mentioned that the US wasn’t “satisfied” with the way the JCPOA was implemented, so it beefed up its military presence near the Iranian border to provoke the country.

Russia ‘understands’ Iran’s decision to reduce JCPOA commitments: envoy

Meantime, Russia’s Permanent Representative to Int’l Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said that Moscow understands the reason behind steps taken by Iran with regard to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“We understand the steps taken [by Iran], the reasons that pushed the Iranians to take them. We call on Iran to refrain from further actions that could complicate the situation with the nuclear deal even more,” Ulyanov told Sputnik on Sunday, Mehr News reported.

According to Ulyanov, Iran’s decision to increase uranium enrichment levels was not unexpected as Tehran is acting in a transparent manner.

 It will be possible to determine by how much Iran had increased its uranium enrichment limit in a few days, he added, stressing that a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran’s uranium enrichment levels may be presented at a special session of the agency’s governing board on July 10.

 “In any case, there is space to continue diplomatic efforts, they will be continued,” Ulyanov pointed out.

 Iranian authorities announced earlier in the day that the country’s enrichment of uranium would surpass 3.6% “in a few hours”, which is above the limit set under the 2015 nuclear deal. Tehran has also vowed to reduce its commitments to the nuclear deal every 60 days if the issue is not resolved.

 M.Wassouf