Russia hails Iran-P5+1 talks as frank

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Moscow supports the continuation of talks between Iran and the major world powers.

“We stand for continuation of such a dialogue,” RIA Novosti quoted Lavrov as saying on Tuesday.

The Russian minister was referring to the latest round of comprehensive talks between Tehran and the P5+1 — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany.

The multifaceted negotiations were held in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Friday and Saturday.

Hinting at comments made by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton following the talks, Lavrov said, “Not all participants of the talks with the (Iranian) Secretary of Supreme National Security Council consider them [the talks] as a failure. It was very serious, very precise, frank conversation about the issues which should be the essence of the future talks.”

Lavrov added that the future talks must touch topics of interest for Iran, adding that the date of the new talks has not been set up so far.

Head of the Iranian delegation in Istanbul Saeed Jalili told Press TV on Saturday that Tehran is always ready for talks with the P5+1.

“We are ready for more talks. We have always urged the other side to return to the talks,” said Jalili, who is also the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

Jalili noted that Iran entered the talks with a positive view and it is ready for more negotiations based on common ground.