According to Russian Foreign Minister Seregi Lavrov, Moscow welcomes any steps that could lead to a comprehensive deal on Tehrans controversial nuclear program.MOSCOW, December 9 (Sputnik) Russia supports the normalization ofrelations betweenthe United States and Iran astheir direct dialogue is long overdue, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said inan exclusive interview withRIA Novosti onTuesday.In our opinion, a full-scale political dialogue betweenTehran and Washington, including onissues ofregional security, is long overdue, Lavrov said.
We are convinced that the improvement ofrelations betweenthe two countries would benefit stability inthe Middle East and beyondthe region, while helping toresolve the situation aroundthe Iranian nuclear program aswell asincreasing the effectiveness ofthe fight againstglobal terrorism and drug threat, the minister said.
Lavrov also reiterated that Moscow welcomes any steps that could lead toa comprehensive deal onTehrans controversial nuclear program.
During the pastdecades, relations betweenthe United States and Iran have been strained. The United States openly supported and armed Iraq duringthe Iran-Iraq war inthe 1980s. In 1995, the United States introduced a total embargo ontrade withIran. Since 2003, Washington has accused Iran ofdeveloping nuclear weapons.
Apart fromthe United States, several other western countries and Israel argue that Iran develops nuclear weapons underthe guise ofa civilian nuclear program, while Tehran argues that its nuclear activity is aimed purely atmeeting the country's growing energy needs.
In November 2013, duringtalks held inGeneva, the P5+1 group ofinternational mediators comprising Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, and Germany agreed toreach a deal withTehran guaranteeing the peaceful nature ofthe Iranian nuclear program byJuly 2014. The deadline forthe agreement was later postponed toNovember 24, 2014.
At the latest roundof talks betweenIran and the P5+1 countries held inVienna, the parties failed toreach a comprehensive deal onIran's nuclear program bythe November 24 deadline. The sides agreed toextend the Geneva agreements and continue their dialogue untilJuly 2015.
By Sputnik News
The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.
