Russia urges immediate resumption of Iran-P5+1 talks

Russia has called for the resumption of negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers on Tehran’s nuclear energy program very soon.

“We feel that the negotiation process would dynamically develop without unnecessary artificial pauses. We believe that the next meeting of the “Six” (the P5+1 group) on Iran should be held as soon as possible,” Russian presidential aide, Yuri Ushakov, told reporters on Thursday.

He reaffirmed Moscow’s call for the settlement of Iran’s nuclear issue “only through political and diplomatic means,” dismissing a military act as “absolutely inadmissible.”

Ushakov emphasized that “negotiations on Iran have the chance to succeed,” urging both sides to the talks to take positive measures to work out a peaceful solution to the West’s standoff with the Islamic Republic over its civilian nuclear work.

Iran and the P5+1– comprising five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany — have held several rounds of talks on a range of issues, with the main focus being on Tehran’s nuclear energy program.

The two sides wrapped up their latest round of negotiations in April in the Kazakh city of Almaty. An earlier meeting had been held in Almaty in February.

The US, Israel, and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program. Iran has categorically rejected the allegation, saying that its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful and in line with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which it is a signatory.

During numerous inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency, no evidence has been ever found showing diversion in the Iranian nuclear energy program toward non-civilian purposes.