Former senior lawmaker Ali Motahari has lashed out at Iran’s foreign minister over his remarks about Russia to benefit from the revival of the 2015 nuclear agreement. 

Motahari, a social conservative who has often criticized hardliners in recent years, said on twitter on Sunday that the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) has nothing to do with Russia and Moscow does not have the right o benefit from it. 

His reaction was to a sentence by Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who told Croatian daily Večernji List in a recent interview that Russia has demanded that if the JCPOA were to be restored, the agreement should also benefit Russia as a party that has taken constructive measures for its revival.

Motahari criticized the sentiment, saying that “Is Iran one of the Russian Commonwealth of Independent States or a Russian colony whose interests are tied to Russia's interests?” 

“Russia has taken its share of interests from Iran and its territory years ago with the annexation of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia,” he said referring to the early 19th century, adding that “it is not necessary that Russia takes advantage of the JCPOA too.”

Pundits in Tehran say Russia supports the revival of the nuclear deal but wants tensions to continue between Iran and the West.

Vienna talks were almost completed in March before Russia demanded a US guarantee that sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine should not hurt its trade with Tehran.

If finalized, the renewed nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers lets Russia cash in on a $10-billion contract to build atomic reactors in Iran.