Iran's uranium, heavy water stock complies with JCPOA limits - Lavrov
MOSCOW. June 11 (Interfax) - Iran's stock of low enriched uranium (LEU) and heavy water remains below the limits set by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
"As you know, Iran has used its right provided by UN Security Council Resolution 2231 to suspend the fulfillment of certain voluntary restrictions, such as ones on the quantity of low enriched uranium and heavy water," Lavrov said at the Primakov Readings on Tuesday.
"Iran has not reached the levels set by the JCPOA as of yet, and the IAEA keeps reporting Iran's compliance with its obligations," Lavrov said.
"The limits imposed on the production of low enriched uranium and heavy water by Iran were conditioned on the agreements formalized by the Joint Plan of Action, i.e. Iran could continue the work and export the excess products, which has been done for all these years," Lavrov said.
"Now the United States has prohibited all countries from buying the excess products from Iran. It is hard to find appropriate words, and intractability seems to be the mildest description: this is an obvious attempt to force the world to disregard the UN Security Council resolution for the purpose of smothering a state. In fact, this is the objective proclaimed by the United States in its policy for the Middle East," Lavrov said.
"This is regretful, and we are trying to counteract and to take a more responsible and comprehensive look at problems of the region; we are also inviting our partners to do the same," he said.
Speaking of the EU's Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges with Iran under the U.S. sanctions (INSTEX), Lavrov said it was clear to Russia that "the mechanism will be designed for all states trading with Iran."
"It would be faulty otherwise. And there will be no restrictions on goods eligible for this mechanism. First and foremost, oil. This is crucial to Iran, and this is declared by the JCPOA," Lavrov said.