Mikhail Ulyanov, Russian ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency. AFP
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russian ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency. AFP
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russian ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency. AFP
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russian ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency. AFP

Iran nuclear deal falters over unresolved Russian demands


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Parties trying to revive the Iran nuclear deal on Wednesday scrambled to resolve last-minute Russian demands that threaten to scupper negotiations, diplomats said.

The US appeared unwilling to engage with Russia on the matter, Reuters reported.

Western powers on Tuesday warned Russia against wrecking an almost completed deal on bringing the US and Iran back into compliance with the 2015 accord. Iran's top negotiator returned to Vienna on Wednesday from consultations in Tehran.

Iran's top security official, Ali Shamkhani, said on Thursday the US does not have the will to reach an agreement.

Mr Shamkhani said on Twitter that in the absence of a political decision by the US the talks "become more complicated every hour".

The US “has no will to reach a strong agreement", he said. It was making “unacceptable proposals [and] insists on a quick agreement with false pretences”, he said.

He did not elaborate on the US proposals.

Russia's envoy to the talks, Mikhail Ulyanov, dismissed any suggestion Moscow was holding up an agreement and said a final text had in any case not been completed.

Eleven months of talks to restore the deal, which lifted sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear programme, have reached their final stages with several diplomats saying there was broad agreement.

But just as the final issues were being resolved, Russia presented a new obstacle by demanding written guarantees from the US that western sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine would not affect its trade with Iran.

Mr Ulyanov said Moscow's demands had not received a positive reaction.

"In view of the new circumstances and wave of sanctions against Russia we have the right to protect our interests in the nuclear field and wider context," Mr Ulyanov said.

He said the US and the EU had to make it clear that sanctions, neither now nor in the future, could hit the implementation of nuclear projects in Iran, as well as its trade and economic relations.

Mr Ulyanov met the co-ordinator of the talks, Enrique Mora of the EU, on Tuesday evening and again on Wednesday.

He said he would still have to report back to Moscow for a final decision after the text was finalised.

"There is no final text, so how can our position delay anything if final negotiations are not finished," he said. "A number of participants at this moment are not ready to confirm that the text is fully acceptable to them."

US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland on Tuesday accused Russia of seeking to reap extra benefits from its participation in the effort to restore the nuclear agreement, but she said Washington would not be playing "Let's Make a Deal".

Two western diplomats said it was still not clear what the exact nature of Moscow's demands were, while a European diplomat said Russia was demanding sweeping guarantees on trade between Moscow and Tehran, demands that were deemed unacceptable.

They said the talks were now not likely to end this week.

Important questions to consider

1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?

There are different types of travel available for pets:

  • Manifest cargo
  • Excess luggage in the hold
  • Excess luggage in the cabin

Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.

 

2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?

If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.

If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.

 

3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?

As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.

If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty. 

If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport. 

 

4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?

This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.

In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.

 

5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?

Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.

Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.

Source: Pawsome Pets UAE

Updated: March 10, 2022, 8:46 AM