Russia and Iran condemned Western countries for damaging cooperation between Tehran and the IAEA

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and his Iranian counterpart Majid Takht-Ravanchi have condemned Western countries for damaging Tehran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. This is reported on December 6 on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"An in-depth, informative and frank conversation was held on all aspects related to the JCPOA and the prospects of international efforts to settle around the Iranian nuclear program. The sides strongly condemned the subversive activities of the United States and European countries, which by their gross systemic violations of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and unjustified attacks on Iran cause significant damage to the constructive cooperation between Tehran and the IAEA," the statement said.

Moscow expressed hope that the agreements reached during IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi's visit to Iran will still be realized after the anti-Iran resolution of Western countries.

The diplomats agreed to continue tight coordination of actions and outlined joint steps in this direction.

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Earlier, on November 21, the IAEA Board of Governors adopted a resolution criticizing Iran. The U.S. expressed deep concern about Tehran's nuclear activities, while the United Kingdom, France and Germany said that the nuclear program could threaten world security.

Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's envoy to international organizations in Vienna, called the resolution untimely and threatening dangerous consequences by undermining Iran's cooperation with the agency. In response to the adoption of the document, the Iranian side decided to launch new centrifuges for uranium enrichment.

Shortly before the document's approval, Iran allowed the possibility of resuming negotiations to return to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Tehran's nuclear program. Grossi also said Iran had begun preparations to stop building up its stockpile of enriched uranium.