Due to the nuclear deal with Iran … Russia criticizes the United States and describes it as “ridiculous”

On Tuesday, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations criticized the United States of America and described it as “ridiculous” for saying that he is still a member of the nuclear agreement with Iran, two years after his withdrawal, so that he can activate the return of all the United Nations sanctions against Tehran.

The United States, Russia, China, Germany, Britain and France reached an agreement with Iran in 2015, which prevents Tehran from developing nuclear weapons in exchange for the reduction of sanctions.

The UN Security Council included the agreement in a resolution that still describes the United States as part of it, despite its withdrawal.

In 2018, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, withdrew from the agreement that his predecessor, Barack Obama, called “the worst deal in history.”

But United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last month that the language of the resolution “is unambiguous” and that “all participants have the rights that participants enjoy under the resolution of the Security Council of the UN “.

He was referring to the ability of any party involved in the nuclear deal, known as the joint comprehensive action plan, to trigger the so-called return of all United Nations sanctions against Iran.

“This is ridiculous … They are not a party and they have no right to activate (the sanctions),” the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, told reporters.

Diplomats say the United States will face a chaotic battle if it tries to trigger the return of sanctions that include an arms embargo against Iran. It is not yet clear how or if a member of the Security Council could stop such a move.

Nebenzia said the United States should consider whether it was worth it.

He warned that “the activation of the sanctions will definitely be the end of the joint comprehensive action plan … and the closest inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency will stop … Is the United States interested in doing that?”

The United States has offered European parties to the agreement the possibility of re-imposing sanctions if it cannot persuade the 15-member Security Council to stop the arms embargo against Iran, which will expire in October.

And any UN Security Council resolution needs nine votes, yes, without Russia, China, the United States, France or Great Britain using the veto.

When asked if Russia would use its veto against such a decision, Nebenzia said: “I do not answer any questions before the appropriate time, but you can guess … I see no reason to impose an arms embargo on Iran.”