MOSCOW, October 30 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is planning to make a short working visit to Iran on Tuesday, a foreign ministry spokesman said.
"A short working visit of the [foreign] minister to Iran is scheduled for Tuesday," Mikhail Kamynin said.
Lavrov is currently on a visit to Kazakhstan in Central Asia.
The Russian minister is expected to discuss Tehran's controversial nuclear program with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Iran says it needs the program for energy, but the U.S. and Europe suspect Tehran of pursuing a clandestine weapons program, and have pressed for severe sanctions against Iran.
The UN Security Council has twice adopted sanctions against the Islamic Republic, and Washington unilaterally imposed new sanctions on Tehran last week.
Russia has been more restrained in its position, calling for diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iran on October 16 for a five-nation Caspian summit, held in Tehran.
"We have been, and will be, building good, neighborly relations with that country [Iran]. In terms of some activities, for example, energy cooperation - oil, gas, and the electric power industry - we are very important partners," he said.
Russia is building Iran's first nuclear power plant in Bushehr and Putin reaffirmed Moscow's commitment to finishing the construction on schedule, despite several delays in the past.
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