Transcript

Fragment of S.V. Lavrov's Interview for the \"Bridges to the East\" Project

2025-10-08 RU · EN (house translation, pending review) Source Digest Readout

English includes full house translations. Review is pending; untranslated passages and selected digest glosses remain labelled.

Русский	English
Вопрос: Ситуация в Иране видится как один из ключевых факторов, влияющих на стабильность в регионе. После силового сценария, к которому прибегли Израиль и США летом с.г., как видится дальнейшее развитие ситуации? Возможно ли, на Ваш взгляд, возвращение к полномасштабным переговорам по иранской ядерной программе? С.В.Лавров: Иран в этом заинтересован.	Full house translation — pending review Question: The situation in Iran is seen as one of the key factors affecting stability in the region. Following the military approach to which Israel and the United States resorted in the summer of this year, how do you see the situation developing further? In your view, is a return to full-scale negotiations on Iran's nuclear program possible? S. V. Lavrov: Iran is interested in this.
4 Iran's Continued Readiness to Negotiate and Its Flexibility
ИРИ все эти месяцы с января с.г., когда на Западе всерьез стали «играть» в возобновление санкций, хотя на это нет никаких законных прав, последовательно выступал за переговоры, проявлял гибкость, креативность в своих подходах, стремился не поддаваться на провокации, потому что Запад постоянно заманивал иранских переговорщиков на какие-то очередные «раунды», где потом достигали какого-то предварительного понимания. Все надеялись, что это окончательно поставит точку в разговорах о том, как быть дальше.	Full house translation — pending review Throughout all these months since January of this year, when the West began seriously “playing” at reinstating sanctions despite having no legal right to do so, the Islamic Republic of Iran consistently advocated negotiations, showed flexibility and creativity in its approaches, and sought not to succumb to provocations, because the West constantly lured Iranian negotiators into yet more “rounds,” where some preliminary understanding would then be reached. Everyone hoped that this would finally put an end to the discussions about how to proceed.
1 JCPOA Compliance History — Iran Kept the Deal, the West Broke It
Запад потом отказывался от своих предложений, предварительных договоренностей, компромиссов и продолжал действовать методами шантажа, диктата, угроз. Сам факт возобновления этих санкций, которые Запад пытается выдать за состоявшееся правовое действо, – совершенно возмутительная история, потому что, напомню, резолюция, одобрившая Совместный всеобъемлющий план действий по урегулированию иранской ядерной программы, была нарушена не Ираном. Исламская Республика выполняла ее с 2015 г., когда она только она была принята.	Full house translation — pending review The West then abandoned its proposals, preliminary agreements and compromises and continued to use methods of blackmail, diktat and threats. The very fact of reinstating these sanctions, which the West is trying to portray as a completed legal act, is utterly outrageous because, let me remind you, it was not Iran that violated the resolution endorsing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue. The Islamic Republic had complied with it since 2015, when it had only just—it had been adopted.
2 Illegitimacy of the Snapback Sanctions
Потом, в 2019 г., США сказали, что им это не нравится, что они не будут ничего выполнять. А европейцы, которые тоже обязаны были выполнять «плод трудов своих», вместо того, чтобы высказаться принципиально за сохранение этой «сделки», стали «подыгрывать» Вашингтону и убеждать иранцев: мол, хорошо, американцы отказались её выполнять, но вы не обижайтесь, давайте придумаем еще чего-нибудь, здесь уступите. Это просто подло, не говоря уже о том, что это грубейшим образом нарушает международное право.	Full house translation — pending review Then, in 2019, the United States said it did not like this and would not comply with anything. And the Europeans, who were also obliged to implement the “fruit of their own labors,” instead of taking a principled stand in favor of preserving this “deal,” began “playing along” with Washington and persuading the Iranians: well, all right, the Americans have refused to implement it, but do not take offense; let us think of something else, make a concession here. This is simply vile, quite apart from the fact that it is a flagrant violation of international law.
Устав ООН требует выполнять все резолюции. А они решили вот так. Воспользовались тем положением этой «сделки» (я участвовал в этом процессе), которое в 2015 г. вызывало большие вопросы. Тогдашний Госсекретарь Дж.Керри сказал тогдашнему министру иностранных дел Ирана М.Д.Зарифу (выступал как переговорщик), что, мол, хорошо, что мы все согласовали (а это огромный документ, прописаны технические, юридические, практические детали), и предложил ему все это «продать» в Конгрессе и в Вашингтоне.	Full house translation — pending review The UN Charter requires all resolutions to be implemented. But they decided to act this way. They took advantage of a provision in this “deal” (I participated in this process) that raised major questions in 2015. Then Secretary of State J. Kerry told Iran's then foreign minister M. J. Zarif (who was acting as a negotiator) that it was good that we had agreed on everything (and this is an enormous document setting out technical, legal and practical details), and proposed that he “sell” all of this in Congress and in Washington.
3 The "Snapback Trap" — The 2015 Mechanism by Design
Поскольку к Тегерану многие в США не испытывают доверия, то чтобы их убедить, запишем, что если вдруг Иран будет что-то нарушать, не выполнять, то тогда автоматически принимается резолюция о возобновлении санкций. И сделать там ничего невозможно. Придумали «схему», которая однозначно в пользу любого, кто захотел бы вновь возобновить санкции против Ирана. Уверен, что иранцы пошли на такую договоренность исключительно по одной причине. Они не собирались и не хотели нарушать что бы то ни было.	Full house translation — pending review Since many people in the United States do not trust Tehran, to convince them let us write down that if Iran should violate anything or fail to comply, a resolution reinstating sanctions will then be adopted automatically. And nothing can be done about it. They devised a “scheme” that unequivocally favors anyone who might want to reinstate sanctions against Iran. I am sure the Iranians agreed to such an arrangement for one reason alone. They had no intention or desire to violate anything.
5 The West Deliberately Blocks Talks and Provokes Conflict
Поэтому они с чистой совестью, с легким сердцем подписались под этим беспрецедентным инструментом, которым сейчас Запад грубейшим образом злоупотребил, перевернув все «с ног на голову». Наказали страну, которая ничего не нарушала и все выполняла, пока Запад не отошел от «сделки». Иранцы по-прежнему готовы вести переговоры. Запад специально делает все, чтобы этих переговоров с Соединенными Штатами не было (хотя к этому иранцы всегда были готовы) и чтобы Иран с МАГАТЭ не возобновил нормального сотрудничества.	Full house translation — pending review Therefore, with a clear conscience and a light heart, they signed up to this unprecedented instrument, which the West has now grossly abused, turning everything “upside down.” They punished a country that had violated nothing and complied with everything until the West walked away from the “deal.” The Iranians remain ready to negotiate. The West is deliberately doing everything to prevent these negotiations with the United States (although the Iranians have always been ready for them) and to prevent Iran from resuming normal cooperation with the IAEA.
6 Iran–Saudi Normalization and Improving Iran–Arab Relations
Как будто они специально провоцируют крупный конфликт. Может быть, кому-то это и надо. Мы же говорим с Вами про арабские дела. Мы готовимся к арабскому саммиту. В последние годы, в том числе при нашем содействии, наметились позитивные подвижки в отношениях между Ираном и арабскими странами. С рядом государств у него были отношения достаточно давно. Несколько лет назад договорились с КСА о нормализации отношений. Это важнейшая страна Персидского залива.	Full house translation — pending review It is as though they are deliberately provoking a major conflict. Perhaps someone wants that. After all, you and I are discussing Arab affairs. We are preparing for the Arab summit. In recent years, including with our assistance, there have been positive developments in relations between Iran and the Arab countries. It had had relations with a number of states for quite a long time. Several years ago, it reached an agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to normalize relations. This is a country of the utmost importance in the Persian Gulf.
7 Russia's Gulf Collective Security Concept (GCC + Iran)
Мы это активно приветствовали, потому что уже долгие годы продвигаем концепцию коллективной безопасности в районе Персидского залива, желая, чтобы все прибрежные страны наладили между собой процесс укрепления доверия, развития взаимовыгодных проектов. Шесть стран ССАГПЗ и Иран.	Full house translation — pending review We actively welcomed this because for many years we have been promoting a concept of collective security in the Persian Gulf region, seeking for all the coastal countries to establish among themselves a process of building confidence and developing mutually beneficial projects. The six GCC countries and Iran.
8 Western Neocolonialism — From "Divide and Rule" to "Incite and Rule"
Многим, наверное, не хочется, чтобы так произошло, чтобы Иран избавлялся от проблем, которые на него «навесили» (о них я упомянул), и требований, чтобы Исламская Республика в одностороннем порядке отказывалась не только от ядерной программы, включая мирную ядерную программу, но и в одностороннем порядке разоружалась. Многим хочется сохранять настороженное отношение арабских стран Залива по отношению к Ирану. Это игры Запада. Британцы всегда славились своим подходом «разделяй и властвуй».	Full house translation — pending review Many probably do not want this to happen, do not want Iran to rid itself of the problems that have been “foisted” upon it (which I mentioned) and of demands that the Islamic Republic unilaterally give up not only its nuclear program, including its peaceful nuclear program, but also unilaterally disarm. Many want to preserve the wary attitude of the Arab Gulf countries toward Iran. These are the West's games. The British have always been famous for their “divide and rule” approach.
А здесь даже не «разделяй», а «натравливай и властвуй». Печально, что до сих пор колониальные и неоколониальные замашки определяют действия некоторых наших западных коллег.	Full house translation — pending review But here it is not even “divide,” but “set against one another and rule.” It is sad that colonial and neocolonial tendencies still determine the actions of some of our Western colleagues.
Matching Russian passage has not been identified	Cached English source — passage alignment not verified Question: The situation in Iran holds a key to regional stability. Following the use of force by Israel and the United States this summer, how do you see the situation unfold next? Do you think full-scale talks on the Iranian nuclear programme have a chance to ever materialise? Sergey Lavrov: Iran has a stake in it.
Matching Russian passage has not been identified	Cached English source — passage alignment not verified Since January, when the West began seriously playing with the idea of re-imposing sanctions - without any legal grounds for doing so - Iran consistently advocated for talks showing flexibility and creativity in its approaches, striving not to succumb to provocations. The West kept luring Iranian negotiators into yet another “round” of talks, where some preliminary understandings were reached giving hope that this would finally settle the question of what to do next.
Matching Russian passage has not been identified	Cached English source — passage alignment not verified However, the West later backed out of its own proposals, preliminary agreements, and compromises, and continued instead to act through blackmail, diktat, and threats. The idea of re-imposing the sanctions which the West is trying to present as a legitimate legal procedure is utterly outrageous. As you may recall, the resolution approving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear programme was not violated by Iran.
Matching Russian passage has not been identified	Cached English source — passage alignment not verified The Islamic Republic had been fulfilling it since 2015 when it was first adopted. Then, in 2019, the United States said it did not like the deal and would no longer comply with it. The Europeans, who were also obliged to fulfill the “fruit of their own labour,” instead of taking a principled stand in favour of preserving the deal, chose to play along with Washington, persuading the Iranians not to take offence and to make more concessions.
Matching Russian passage has not been identified	Cached English source — passage alignment not verified This is plain and simple dishonourable, not to mention that it represents a blatant violation of international law. The UN Charter requires all resolutions to be implemented. But they decided otherwise. They exploited a provision in the deal (I was involved in this process) that raised serious questions back in 2015.
Matching Russian passage has not been identified	Cached English source — passage alignment not verified Then US Secretary of State John Kerry told then Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who was negotiating on behalf of his country, that now that they’ve agreed on everything (it was a massive document with detailed technical, legal, and practical provisions) it would make sense to “sell it” to Congress and Washington, where many distrust Tehran.
Matching Russian passage has not been identified	Cached English source — passage alignment not verified To reassure them, he proposed inserting a clause that if Iran were ever to violate or fail to fulfill its obligations, a resolution on automatic re-imposition of sanctions would be adopted. There’s nothing one can do about it. This mechanism was clearly designed to benefit anyone wishing to re-impose sanctions on Iran. I am convinced that the Iranians accepted this arrangement for only one reason: they had no intention of violating anything.
Matching Russian passage has not been identified	Cached English source — passage alignment not verified That is why they signed this unprecedented instrument with a clear conscience and peace of mind - an instrument the West has now grossly abused, turning everything upside down. They punished a country that had not violated a thing and had been fulfilling its obligations until the West walked away from the deal. Iran remains ready for dialogue.
Matching Russian passage has not been identified	Cached English source — passage alignment not verified The West, however, is deliberately going to great lengths to prevent direct talks between Iran and the United States (although Tehran has always been open to them) and to block the resumption of normal cooperation between Iran and the IAEA, as if making a special effort to provoke a major conflict. Perhaps, that is exactly what some parties are looking for. We are discussing Arab affairs here. We are preparing for the upcoming Arab summit.
Matching Russian passage has not been identified	Cached English source — passage alignment not verified In recent years, including with our assistance, there have been positive shifts in relations between Iran and the Arab states. Iran has had relations with a number of countries for quite some time. A few years ago, it reached an agreement on normalising relations with Saudi Arabia, a critically important player in the Persian Gulf.
Matching Russian passage has not been identified	Cached English source — passage alignment not verified We welcomed this step, as we have for many years been promoting the concept of collective security in the Gulf region encouraging all littoral states - six GCC countries and Iran - to establish a process of confidence-building and to develop mutually beneficial projects. Yet, many out there are clearly opposed to this.
Matching Russian passage has not been identified	Cached English source — passage alignment not verified They do not want to see Iran overcome the problems imposed on it (I mentioned them), or to face fewer unilateral demands to renounce not only its nuclear programme, including the peaceful one, but also to disarm unilaterally. Many actors prefer to keep the Gulf Arab states wary of Iran. This is the West’s game. The British have long been known for their divide-and-conquer approach. In this particular case, though, it is not even about divide and conquer, but about pit against one another and conquer.
Matching Russian passage has not been identified	Cached English source — passage alignment not verified Sadly, colonial and neocolonial instincts have continued to guide some of our Western colleagues’ actions to this day.