14 Mar 2022 18:55

JCPOA to be at center of talks between Russian, Iranian FMs

MOSCOW. March 14 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian will focus on the situation surrounding the Iran nuclear deal during their upcoming talks in Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"The ministers will give special attention to the situation around the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA] on the Iranian nuclear program in the context of the Vienna-based negotiations, which have entered their final stretch," the Foreign Ministry said on its website on Monday.

"The parties will also touch upon the current situation in Ukraine in the context of the special military operation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation," it said.

"We intend to further broaden mutually beneficial ties with Iran in the interests of regional stability and international security. We count on the strengthening of positive tendencies in all spheres of Russian-Iranian cooperation. The hostile steps taken by Western countries to introduce illegal restrictive measures against our country will not stop Russia from staying committed to progressively strengthening its entire multifaceted partnership with the Islamic Republic of Iran," the ministry said.

At the upcoming meeting, "the foreign ministers will also compare notes on other key regional topics, including the situation in the Caspian region, Afghanistan, the South Caucasus, the Persian Gulf, Yemen, as well as the Middle East peace process," it said.

"As regards the Syrian settlement process, the fundamental position of Moscow and Tehran manifests itself in support of unconditional respect for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Syrians' legal right to make their own choice of their country's future. The sides also attach great importance to effective cooperation within the Astana format," the ministry said.