(EDM) Moscow tried its best to present the hard-negotiated deal in Lausanne, Switzerland, on curtailing and controlling the Iranian nuclear program as a success of its firm diplomatic position for a political solution to this formidable problem. In fact, however, Russia played, at best, a secondary role in achieving this breakthrough. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was not even present during the last agonizing day of talks, which culminated in the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif announcing the parameters of the deal (Kommersant, April 3). Russia’s main contribution to the solution—the proposal to store the bulk of Iran’s enriched uranium—was actually turned down by Tehran (RIA Novosti, April 2). The United States has reasons to worry about the translation of the framework agreement into a final document. China is enthusiastic about the prospect of Iran opening for business. But Russia is, to all intents and purposes, the main loser in this compromise. […]
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