MOSCOW, September 29. /TASS/. Iran is considering leaving the NPT after UNSC sanctions on it were restored, while Moldova held a parliamentary election on Sunday. Meanwhile, NATO has posed new threats to Russia in the Black Sea region. These stories topped Monday's newspaper headlines in Russia.
Izvestia: Iran considers quitting NPT as West restores sanctions on Islamic Republic
The renewal of UNSC sanctions on Iran may radicalize the country’s foreign policy and abandon its course toward settling differences with the West through dialogue. Tehran has already recalled its envoys from Britain, France and Germany, the three initiators of the snapback mechanism. However, experts doubt the Islamic Republic will pull out of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). This would undermine the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program and give its opponents, including Israel, grounds to step up pressure. And yet there is a chance toward a deal as the United States is trading sanctions in exchange for Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, while Russia and China oppose the reimposition of tough restrictions.
The sanctions which prohibit Iran from uranium enrichment and processing, weapons supplies and the acquisition of technology for its space exploration and missile programs, as well as restrictions in the oil and banking sectors were reinstated on the night of September 27-28 after the European troika triggered the snapback.
