Comment by the Information and Press Department of the Russian MFA on the Statement by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell regarding dispute settlement within the “nuclear deal” with Iran
We took note of the Statement by EU High Representative Josep Borrell, Coordinator of the Joint Commission established within the framework of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear programme settlement, dated 24 January.
The High Representative summarized intermediate outcomes of his working contacts and informal consultations with JCPOA Participating States after Germany, France and the United Kingdom informed him on 14 January of their decision to follow the path of triggering the dispute resolution mechanism envisaged in the paragraph 36 of the JCPOA.
On our part we would like to confirm the existence of serious complications caused by that E3 decision. Their step creates additional problems and challenges for the process of JCPOA implementation. Besides, the mechanism itself cannot be activated in view of absence of procedures necessary for that as well as decisions of the Joint Commission. Without clarity on these issues it is impossible to “start the clock” within the mechanism. In this regard it is worrying that references to the opinion of anonymous officials have appeared in the media defining 15-day period provided for finding a decision. Until JCPOA participants specify relevant procedures any talk about timelines and “schedules” is premature.
As for the regular Joint Commission meeting planned for February we hope that it will help prevent further escalation of the crisis around the JCPOA, consolidate Participating States on our common task of preserving the nuclear deal. We strongly appeal to E3 and EU coordinators to focus notably on that.
