Moscow wants to see a continuation of the dialogue between Tehran and international mediators on Iran's nuclear problem, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.
The recent Istanbul talks between Iranian officials and the Iran Six group of international mediators, which comprises Russia, the United States, China, Britain, France and Germany, saw no progress, with Tehran rejecting calls to cease uranium enrichment and allow improved UN monitoring of Iran's nuclear activities.
"The main outcome of the talks in Istanbul is we all realized that it is necessary to move step by step and toward one another," Lavrov told reporters in Moscow. "Iran must comply with IAEA and UN Security Council demands, and at the same time realize the prospects that will be opened if the country fully cooperates with the IAEA."
"We will work to make this dialogue continue," he said, adding that the Iranian issue could be resolved only through political agreements.
World powers suspect Iran of pursuing a secret nuclear weapons program, but the Islamic Republic insists it needs nuclear power solely for civilian purposes.
The Iran Six has been trying since 2003 to convince Iran to halt its uranium enrichment program and to alleviate concerns about its nuclear ambitions.
MOSCOW, January 25 (RIA Novosti)
