Moscow-Sana
The Russian Foreign Ministry declared its respect for Iran's decision not to conduct direct negotiations on the nuclear deal with the US side.
Iran had confirmed its refusal to conduct any direct negotiations with Washington before returning to the agreement completely and lifting the unilateral sanctions it imposed on Tehran.
Sputnik news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov as saying today, “We respect Iran's decision and it is not a secret that Russia supported the idea of the European Foreign Policy Department that was proposed several weeks ago regarding an informal contact for the participants in the JCPOA and the United States as well, but since Tehran has taken a different decision, so we will work within the format of indirect negotiations, which is what everyone, including the Americans, agreed to.
Ryabkov referred to the meeting to be held tomorrow in Vienna on the comprehensive action plan for the nuclear agreement, indicating that this meeting might lead to the revival of the Iranian nuclear agreement.
Earlier today, Russia expressed through its permanent representative to the international organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov its readiness to mediate between Iran and the United States on the joint work plan for the nuclear agreement if requested to do so.
Iran had agreed with the "four plus one" group to hold new talks in Vienna tomorrow to discuss developments related to the nuclear agreement and to ensure its full implementation.
