"They continue to mislead": the Russian Foreign Ministry denied US statements on the restoration of UN sanctions against Iran

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the UN Security Council did not take any action that would lead to the resumption of sanctions against Iran, which were lifted after the conclusion in 2015 of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action for the Settlement of the Iranian Nuclear Program (JCPOA).

Thus, the department commented on Washington's statements, according to which the process of restoring restrictive measures by the UN Security Council was allegedly launched.

As noted in the Russian Foreign Ministry, the United States "continues to mislead" the international community, speculating about the completion of "certain procedures to restore the effect of sanctions resolutions" in the UN Security Council.

“Of course, the Americans understand that their statements are not true.

That is why all who disagree with them, the United States, as usual, threatens to subject sanctions and other punishments.

Apparently, there are no other arguments left in American foreign policy, ”the ministry said in a statement.

The Russian Foreign Ministry called Washington's actions a "theatrical performance" aimed at subordinating the Security Council to a policy of "maximum pressure" on Iran and turning this body into a "handy tool" for the United States.

As pointed out in the Russian Foreign Ministry, the United States is aware that its withdrawal from the "nuclear deal" with Tehran and the resumption of unilateral sanctions marked the rejection of international norms set by the Security Council and the UN Charter.

“Now they are trying to force everyone to put on“ augmented reality glasses ”labeled“ made in USA ”and perceive what is happening around Iran and the JCPOA exclusively through them.

But the world is not an American computer game, ”the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry concluded that "illegitimate US initiatives and actions, by definition, cannot have international legal consequences for other countries and lead to the emergence of obligations to limit their legitimate cooperation with Iran."

Earlier, the United States said that in the coming days Washington will take measures against Iran and the "violators" of the UN Security Council sanctions on the Iranian nuclear program.

"A 30-day process was launched to return previously terminated UN Security Council sanctions, which will enter into force at 20:00 on September 19," the text says.

It is noted that the United States will announce a number of measures to bring to justice violators of the implementation of UN sanctions.

Later, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that UN sanctions against Iran are coming into force, despite the fact that the organization does not agree with this.

In his opinion, the sanctions were allegedly restored in accordance with UN procedures.

"The United States expects that all UN member states will fully comply with their obligations to implement these measures," RIA Novosti quoted Pompeo as saying.

The secretary added that in addition to the arms embargo, the sanctions include restrictions such as a ban on Iran from participating in uranium enrichment and processing, a ban on Iran's testing and development of ballistic missiles, and sanctions on the transfer of technology related to nuclear and missile development. 

"Our campaign of maximum pressure on the Iranian regime will continue until Iran reaches a comprehensive agreement with us that tames its proliferation threats (of nuclear and missile technologies. -

) and stops its actions, wreaking havoc, violence and bloodshed," Pompeo believes ...

Recall that the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan (JCPOA or "nuclear deal") was signed in 2015 between Iran and the countries of the "six" (USA, Russia, China, Germany, France and Great Britain).

Under the terms of the treaty, Tehran agreed to admit IAEA inspectors to its facilities and guaranteed that it would not develop nuclear weapons in exchange for lifting economic sanctions.

In May 2018, Trump announced the unilateral US withdrawal from the nuclear deal.

According to Washington, Tehran allegedly violated its terms.

Soon after the US withdrew from the agreement, the Trump administration resumed unilateral sanctions against Iran and imposed new restrictions.

The rest of the JCPOA and the IAEA stressed that Iran fulfills all the terms of the deal and is not developing nuclear weapons.

Commenting on the words of Pompeo about the resumption of sanctions, the head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrell recalled that the United States unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan.

"Consequently, they cannot be considered a party to the JCPOA and cannot initiate the process of restoring UN sanctions in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2231. In this regard, the obligations to lift sanctions in accordance with the JCPOA continue to apply," Borrell said in a statement.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry also pointed out that Washington's statements on the entry into force of UN sanctions against Tehran do not correspond to reality.

“The request of the United States, which is not a member of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, for the restoration of sanctions was in the bud rejected by the Security Council.

The process of restoring the sanctions has not begun, "RIA Novosti quotes the agency's statement.

The Foreign Ministry clarified that a serious response from Iran will follow to the US threats.