Mikhail Ulyanov: rescuing Iran nuclear talks

“It’s outrageous because these nuclear plant facilities were certified by the International Atomic Energy Agency as purely peaceful facilities. The inspectors, they spent, there, a lot of time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Iran is the most verifiable country, thousands of inspections. The agency knows everything about what is going on.”

BBC journalist Farnaz Ghazizadeh speaks to Mikhail Ivanovich Ulyanov, Russia’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, about the collapse of diplomacy over Iran’s nuclear programme and whether negotiations can still be rescued.

With decades of experience in disarmament and nuclear negotiations, Ulyanov insists Iran’s nuclear programme is already among the most heavily monitored in the world, and argues concerns over the programme have been exaggerated.

Now, as conflict in the region intensifies, Russia is offering to act as a mediator.

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky, and Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Farnaz Ghazizadeh

Producers: Osman Iqbal

Editor: Damon Rose and Justine Lang

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(Image: Mikhail Ulyanov. Credit: Reuters)