Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has expressed optimism about a breakthrough in the West’s standoff with Iran over Tehran’s nuclear energy program.
"I agree with my colleagues that we have good prospects to step up work on the Iranian nuclear program," Lavrov said at the 8th East Asia Summit in Brunei on Friday.

He added that Russia expects the Iranian problem would get off the ground.
"We'll actively participate in these efforts,” the foreign minister added.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and one of the six world powers involved in nuclear negotiations with Iran, Russia has always supported the Islamic Republic’s right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and stressed that negotiations are the right approach to addressing the dispute.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, China, France, Britain and the US - plus Germany will hold a fresh round of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on October 15 and 16.

Iran and the six major world powers have held several rounds of talks on a range of issues, with the main focus being on Tehran’s nuclear energy program.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif sat down with his counterparts from the six countries at the United Nations headquarters in New York on September 26.

On October 1, the Iranian foreign minister said the nuclear issue can be resolved quickly, noting that the Islamic Republic will go ahead with its nuclear energy program.

“We believe that Iran’s nuclear issue can be resolved speedily, but I emphasize that we will proceed on this path decisively, strongly and firmly while safeguarding the [Iranian] nation’s rights,” Zarif stated.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program, with the US and the European Union using the unsubstantiated claim as an excuse to impose illegal sanctions against Tehran.

Iran has categorically rejected the allegation, stressing that as a committed member of the International Atomic Energy Agency and a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, it is entitled to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

By Press TV

 

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