Russian S-300 missile supply to Iran not covered by international sanctions

Iran’s senior nuclear negotiator Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that Tehran will never accept any extension of restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme beyond the ten years agreed in the recent deal struck between the Islamic Republic and world powers. Araghchi also stressed that the UN Security Council resolution endorsing the 14 July deal does not cover the delivery of S-300 missile systems to Iran by Russia.

Araghchi told reporters that his country “will continue its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency to resolve the remainder of outstanding issues, including speculations that Tehran is developing a nuclear programmme with a military dimension.”

According to Araghchi, “the inspection of Parchin site is one of the issues that will be discussed in the future.”

Remarking on the future of US-Iranian relations, Araghchi said that “reaching a nuclear agreement does not mean the normalisation of relations with the United States,” adding that “if the opposite party respected its commitment to Iran in the agreement and cancelled the sanctions, it is possible then to open further negotiations on issues of mutual interest.”

Araghchi said that “Iran will focus on the development of regional relations, especially with neighbouring countries and will not change its foreign policy.” He also said he expected Tehran’s relations with the international community to witness development in terms of economic relations.

The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation, Ali Akbar Salehi, said that “the two nuclear reactors being constructed by Russia in Iran will begin work this year,” pointing out that “over the next four years Iran will see practical, sophisticated and remarkable development in four of its reactors.”

Iran’s Fars news agency quoted Salehi as saying that “the West did not achieve what it wanted in the negotiations, at least with respect to technical issues,” adding that Iran has managed to enter the nuclear commercial market and will export enriched uranium and heavy water.”

“Iran can, under the agreement, sell 7 tonnes of enriched uranium and receive natural uranium in return which would benefit it in several areas,” he said.