MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The full lifting of sanctions imposed against Iran over its controversial nuclear activities would be in line with Russia's national interests and would benefit the Russian economy, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the Argumenty I Fakty Russian weekly.
"Russian diplomacy made a significant contribution to the achievement of the Lausanne framework agreement on the settlement of issues related to the Iranian nuclear program. We believe that further progress in this direction, the swift lifting of sanctions against Iran – restrictions imposed by the UN Security Council, as well as all unilateral restrictions – fully meets our national interests," Lavrov said.
According to the Russian Foreign Minister, the easing of tensions around Iran would benefit Russia's bilateral trade and economic ties with the country.
As part of the deal, Iran will not build new enrichment facilities or heavy water reactors for 15 years, and will also limit its stockpile of enriched uranium while abiding by enhanced transparency procedures.
In return, the United States and the European Union promised to gradually lift all nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Iran. The UN Security Council will only partially lift its sanctions, with the existing restrictions on conventional arms and ballistic missiles as well as core UN provisions dealing with the transfer of sensitive technologies and activities to remain in place. US anti-Iran sanctions for terrorism, human rights abuses and ballistic missiles have not been cancelled either.
The lifted sanctions could be re-imposed if Iran fails to follow through with all of its commitments.
The P5+1 and Iran plan to hold a new round of talks in Vienna on April 24. A final agreement between Iran and the P5+1 is due by June 30, 2015.
