Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, has accused Europe and the United States of hindering efforts for a nuclear deal with Iran and dialogue with the UN nuclear watchdog.

“What is concerning is the reckless and short-sighted policy of the European JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] participants and the United States, which is steadily leading to another round of escalation,” Ulyanov said in an interview with Russian state-media RIA on Friday.

Ulyanov said that there has been some progress in talks between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but added that it remains limited and faces obstacles.

“To say that there has been no progress at all in the dialogue between Iran and the IAEA would be inaccurate, although the progress is limited and continually meets certain obstacles,” he said.

“An important development recently was the visit of the IAEA director general to Iran in mid-November, during which Rafael Grossi met with the Iranian leadership and visited a number of nuclear facilities, including some beyond the scope of the agreement between Iran and the IAEA on the application of safeguards.”

According to Ulyanov, Grossi’s visit helped establish contact with Iran’s new government and led to agreements aimed at halting the increase of Iran’s 60%-enriched uranium stockpile—an issue of particular concern to Western countries. However, the Russian envoy warned that the E3 and US approach could undermine these efforts and risk further escalation.