Lavrov Says Moscow Never Betrays Tehran In Politics

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Russia never betrays Iran and does not pursue selfish interests in the reinstatement of the 2015 nuclear deal despite a possible boost to world oil supplies.

Lavrov made the remarks on Saturday in response to a question whether restoring the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was advantageous to Russia, considering that it would resume Iranian oil supply to the global market.

"We never betray our friends in politics. Venezuela is our friend, and Iran is a state that is very close to us. Secondly, we do not pursue selfish interests, unlike the Americans", he told finalists in the Leaders of Russia competition.

"You can see what they [the Americans] are actually doing, trying to spite Russia and teach it a lesson,” Lavrov added by considering adding Iranian, Venezuelan and other oil supplies to the international market.

"So, the Americans have been contacting Saudi Arabia, the Emirates and Qatar regarding oil and gas. All of those countries, just like Venezuela and Iran, clearly said: when we discuss issues pertaining to the appearance of new actors in the oil market, all of us are committed to the OPEC+ format, where quotas for every actor are discussed and agreed upon by consensus", he said, noting that "For now, I see no reason to believe that this mechanism may somehow be dismantled. No one is interested in that”.