The Security Index Occasional Paper Series Came Out With The New Report “Russia And Iranian Nuclear Program: What Steps Are To Be Made To Secure Nonproliferation Core Principles And Values?” By Darya Kheyrie

MOSCOW. MARCH 10, 2022. PIR PRESS. The Security Index Occasional Paper Series came out with the new report “Russia and Iranian nuclear program: what steps are to be made to secure nonproliferation core principles and values?” by Darya Kheyrie.

Amid the anticipated resolution of the deadlock at the Vienna talks on the restoration of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Russia acts as a committed defender of the NPT regime and vocal supporter of the JCPOA as a means to preclude Iran’s potential joining the nuclear weapon states club. In this research paper, the author analyzes Russian and Iranian stances on the key issues regarding Tehran’s nuclear ambitions in both peaceful and military fields. The overview of 30 years of peaceful nuclear cooperation, as well as ups and downs around the Iranian nuclear dossier, vindicates Russia’s persistent line of action to promote collaboration with Iran when and if possible, with major points of contention being kept under close consideration. Today Russia and other members of the P5+1 negotiation with Iran could utilize this balanced Russian position. As a corollary, combination of Russia’s experience in the diplomatic problem-solving and technical assistance could help to restore the JCPOA, facilitate its implementation and contribute to the nonproliferation regime integrity in the end.

Key findings:

• Russia is historically involved and interested in the geostrategic situation around Iran since its geographic proximity and strategic importance includes this country in the area of vital national security interests of Russia.
  
• Being a strong advocate of the nonproliferation regime and the IAEA safeguards and verification system, Russia is not interested in Iran’s joining the nuclear weapon states club.
  
• Russia will need to have a detailed and solid dialogue track with Washington in order to avoid possible U.S. sanctions against Russian companies (mainly Rosatom) which will provide technical assistance to bring the Iranian nuclear program into compliance with the JCPOA.
  
• Moscow should promote the creation of an international consortium to deal with the Iranian nuclear energy and efforts to tackle the issue of the WMD Free Zone in the Middle East.
  
• Combination of Russia’s diplomatic efforts and technical assistance could help to restore the JCPOA, facilitate its implementation and contribute to the nonproliferation regime integrity in the end.

Read the report