Lavrov Calls on West to Refrain From Bargaining on Iran’s Nuclear Issue in Final Stage

Local Editor

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday called on the West to refrain from the temptation to bargain in the final stage of resolving Iran's nuclear issue by trying to get more from Iran than is needed for a balanced package.

During a joint press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif in the Russian city of Moscow, Lavrov said, "It's very important in the final stage to avoid temptations; some of our partners have temptations and attempt to use artificial time elements to get just a little bit more than is necessary to provide a balanced and fair package."

Russia will work on preserving the cooperative spirit that prevailed at the 2013 November talks on Iran's nuclear program in Geneva, Lavrov said.

He added that, "It's very important to see red lines here and think not only about our own interests, which is natural, but also think about global challenges...It can be done without prejudice to somebody's specific positions, based on a balance between the interests. We are ready for it and will seek the prevalence of such spirit."

For his part, Zarif said that Iranˈs nuclear issue has entered into a sensitive juncture as Russia has always played a very active and positive role in such talks.

Zarif said that as a member of the G5+1 and as a country which has had the most nuclear cooperation with Iran, Russia will play an active role in the future of the countryˈs peaceful nuclear issue.

Given the prospect of nuclear cooperation between Iran and Russia, it is expected that Moscow would play a proactive and positive role in such talks, Zarif said.

"The talks I will have with Mr. Lavrov during the visit, will help move in the same direction," Zarif said. 

Furthermore, Zarif saif that Iran and Russia should conduct serious talks on Iranˈs nuclear program along with regional developments mainly in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and occupied Palestine.

The presence of an extremist group, who commits savage atrocities in the region, has put the security of the entire region at risk, Zarif stated. Moreover, he warned against the spread of extremism from Syria to Iraq, Lebanon and other regional states.

Terrorism can go beyond the Middle East and North Africa, reaching Europe and US, he said.

He added that Tehran and Moscow share similar stances towards regional and international developments, including the necessity of a campaign against extremism and violence in the region.

Zarif also called for the enhancement of all-out ties between Tehran and Moscow and voiced hope for the success of the Iran-G5+1 talks.

Illegal sanctions can not help in the resolution of Iranˈs nuclear issue and Tehran will not succumb to pressures, Zarif further stated.

An action plan was adopted in the Swiss city of Geneva on November 24, 2013 according to which Iran, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and China agreed to reach an agreement that would guarantee the peaceful nature of Tehran's nuclear program, in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions against Iran.

The document must be signed a year from the Geneva Accord, which gives the parties until November 24, 2014, to reach a final agreement.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team