Russia's Foreign Ministry Issues Statement on Negotiations with Iran

On January 26, negotiations between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif will take place in Moscow. The two last communicated by phone on November 24, 2020.

“Key topics of discussion will include the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, joint comprehensive plans for Iran’s nuclear program operations, the Syrian settlement, the situation in Afghanistan and the Gulf region, among other issues,” states the announcement.

It is noted that discussions will also cover the current state of multifaceted ties between Russia and Iran and specific steps towards further advancement.

The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasizes that Russian-Iranian relations have been actively developing in recent times. The intensity of political dialogue has increased; last year, the presidents of Russia and Iran communicated by phone four times. Intensive bilateral communications are taking place at various levels, including among heads of foreign policy agencies, parliaments, and other state institutions and organizations.

“We intend to further expand mutually beneficial ties with Iran and continue cooperation for the benefit of regional stability and international security. We expect to reinforce positive trends in all areas of Russian-Iranian cooperation. The ongoing development of mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and Iran and the unification of significant potential can not only have a favorable impact on the situation of the two states but also improve the situation in the South Caucasus, the Near and Middle East region, creating additional conditions for ensuring stable peace and stability there,” the statement reads.

The positions of Moscow and Tehran on the Syrian issue are mentioned to align in many respects. Active cooperation continues within the Astana process for the resolution of the Syrian conflict.

The periodic commission for Russian-Iranian trade and economic cooperation, whose next session is scheduled for this year, plays a significant role in increasing the volume of trade turnover. The intensification of inter-regional ties also plays a crucial role.