Russia Optimistic About Reaching Nuclear Negotiation Results Before Deadline

Sergei Ryabkov, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia and head of the country's negotiating team in nuclear talks with Iran, expressed confidence that news about negotiators nearing an agreement will be released in the coming days. Mr. Ryabkov, who is in Vienna, stated on Friday, May 15, that Russia's primary goal at this stage of negotiations is to reach an agreement that guarantees Iran's nuclear rights, increases Russia's international influence, and ensures the growing cooperation between Tehran and Moscow in all areas. However, Peter Topychkanov, an expert at the Carnegie Center in Moscow, believes that Russia intends to use the final stage of the nuclear negotiations for leverage: "According to diplomats, since the beginning of direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran, Moscow has merely been an observer of these discussions. Essentially, the biggest expectation from Moscow was not to obstruct. Now that the end of this dispute is very close, Russia does not want to discard Iran's card but is seeking to extract concessions from the U.S." Meanwhile, Georgy Mirsky, a political analyst in Russia, states that Moscow sees resolving the nuclear dispute with Iran as beneficial for itself: "Many believe it is in Russia's interest for Iran and the U.S. to remain adversaries, especially given our current relations with Washington. I even heard from a senior diplomat in the Russian Foreign Ministry that an Iran aligned with the U.S. poses a greater threat to us than a nuclear Iran. Many are also concerned that Iran's return to the oil and gas market will cause significant economic harm to Russia." Mr. Mirsky adds: "Some ask why we have helped Iran reach this stage in its nuclear program and are now trying to limit it. Fortunately, our politicians have not acted shortsightedly in this matter. With this agreement, Iran's capability to acquire nuclear weapons will be rendered impossible for a long time, and war against Iran will also be prevented. At least for these two reasons, we should welcome this agreement." In another part of his remarks in Vienna, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister described the U.S. Congress's approved plan to review a potential nuclear agreement with Iran as "unconstructive and regrettable." Sergei Ryabkov added that Russia and the U.S. have "different views" on how to lift sanctions against Iran. According to the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, it is the United Nations Security Council that must lift sanctions against Iran, and the reinstatement of sanctions in case Tehran does not comply with its commitments must also be approved again by the Security Council. On the other hand, the RIA Novosti news agency reported that Moscow and Tehran are still discussing the plan to transfer Iran's enriched uranium to Russia, but no agreement has been reached in this regard so far. Iran, the U.S., France, the UK, Russia, China, and Germany have until July 1 to finalize the framework of the understanding reached in Lausanne. However, Mr. Ryabkov stated that he sees no reason for the negotiations not to reach a conclusion even before that date. Meanwhile, Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, who is currently involved in drafting the comprehensive final agreement with his European counterparts, has said that drafting the final text of the nuclear agreement will take one or two more weeks, and there are still significant disagreements among the parties.