By The Voice Desk | June 24, 2025
Moscow — Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has said there is now little hope for reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), citing rising military tensions and what he called “aggressive provocations” by the United States.Speaking to Izvestia on Monday, Ryabkov stated, “In the current environment, we see no real conditions under which the JCPOA could be restored. The window for diplomacy is rapidly closing.”The remarks come just days after the United States launched direct airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — a move that has sparked global condemnation and pushed the region to the brink of wider war.Ryabkov accused Washington of deliberately sabotaging diplomatic efforts. “You cannot bomb nuclear sites on one hand and pretend to seek dialogue on the other,” he said, adding that Russia holds the United States responsible for the breakdown in negotiations.A Deal in RuinsThe JCPOA, signed in 2015 between Iran and world powers including the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Russia, and China, was designed to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The deal has been in disarray since 2018, when former U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the agreement and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.While Iran initially complied with the deal’s terms, it began breaching limits on uranium enrichment following the U.S. withdrawal. Efforts to revive the agreement through European-led diplomacy stalled throughout 2023 and 2024, and now appear to have collapsed entirely.Strategic FalloutRyabkov warned that the recent U.S. military strikes have “utterly destroyed” any remaining trust between Tehran and Washington. “The use of force has never been a path to sustainable agreements,” he said. “This is not just a failure of diplomacy — it’s a deliberate act to derail it.”Russia, a key signatory to the original JCPOA, has consistently opposed military action in the region and maintains close ties with Iran. The Kremlin condemned the U.S. strikes as a violation of international law and accused Washington of pushing the region toward a catastrophic conflict.Global ReactionsThe International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has suspended its inspections at Iranian nuclear sites due to security concerns. European diplomats have called for restraint and urged both Washington and Tehran to avoid further escalation. Meanwhile, Iran has vowed to respond at “a time and manner of its choosing,” though it has so far refrained from major retaliation.A Fragile FutureDespite his pessimism, Ryabkov did not rule out future talks. “We are not giving up on diplomacy,” he said. “But diplomacy requires stability — and right now, there is none.”As tensions continue to mount in the Middle East, observers say the last remnants of the Iran nuclear deal may have finally crumbled, with little hope of resurrection in the near term.
