Iran-P5+1 Meeting In Moscow, Constructive

Moscow, June 23, IRNA – Iran and P5+1 (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) meeting on Iran’s nuclear issue in Moscow was constructive, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said here on Friday. He made the remarks in an interview with his country's Russia 24 TV. Lavrov added that Iran shouldn't face threats over its nuclear program and that a quick settlement of the standoff over it isn't realistic. Russian FM noted the latest round of talks in Moscow this week between six world powers and Iran has been 'quite useful,' even though there was no breakthrough. He said talks must continue without 'any artificial deadlines or ultimatums.' 'In order to settle the issue, it's necessary to refrain from constant threats of using force, abandon scenarios aimed against Iran, and stop dismissing the talks as failure,' Lavrov stated. He said the international talks mustn't be dragged out, but that it would be wrong to 'put forward any artificial deadlines and ultimatums and say that if there is no final agreement by the end of July or August - and there simply can't be any in such a (short) period - then we will end talks and launch some kind of bellicose actions.' Lavrov remarks followed two days of hectic negotiations between Iran and the G5+1 in the Russian capital on Monday and Tuesday. During five sessions of negotiations, the two sides' negotiators exchanged views over the packages of proposals they had presented in the last month talks in Baghdad. Iran's chief negotiator Sa'eid Jalili said after two days of talks with the six world powers in Moscow on Tuesday that uranium enrichment is the Iranian nation's inalienable right and the Group 5+1 should now make a choice. EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton, who leads the delegations of the six world powers in negotiations with Iran, said that the representatives from Tehran and the sextet will attend an experts' meeting next month on July 3rd in Istanbul./end