On September 25, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov took part in the ministerial meeting of the JCPOA participants on the sidelines of the high-level week at the 74th UN General Assembly session.

The participants managed to have a very detailed discussion around common goals – to preserve the plan and ensure persistent implementation despite continuous attacks and challenges made primarily by the US’ anti-Iranian actions.

It was confirmed that there is no sensible alternative to the JCPOA. It should not be used as a bargaining chip for settling other sensitive issues. The situation requires strict observance of the assumed commitments by all parties involved in the plan. The Russian diplomats repeatedly emphasized that this was the only way to hope for a return to the plan in its initially negotiated format.

Mr Lavrov reminded his European colleagues of their responsibility for maintaining a thoroughly adjusted balance of interests on which the JCPOA is based.

The sides supported France’s efforts to ease tensions regarding the JCPOA and expressed hope that they would facilitate the integrity of the agreements by allowing Tehran to return to full observance of the plan’s requirements and create conditions for using the trade and economic benefits, which is why Iran agreed to the nuclear deal.

The Russian diplomats consistently emphasised that these measures had to be acceptable to all parties to the JCPOA since the matter deals with the destiny of the 2015 comprehensive agreements approved by a UN Security Council resolution.

The meeting demonstrated the unanimous desire of all sides to continue meticulous work on implementing the JCPOA.

Russia reaffirmed its commitment to constructive cooperation with all of its partners in the interests of the common cause and supported the appeal to step up the work of the Joint Commission and its working bodies.