TEHRAN, Feb. 25 (MNA) – In a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian expressed hope that the crisis between Russia and Ukraine will be settled through political channels.

Amir-Abdollahian said that efforts are underway for the repatriation of Iranian nationals living in Ukraine through neighboring countries.

"It is our serious priority to ensure security and health of Iranian citizens living in Ukraine and we expect that grounds will be prepared for their safe exit," he added.

The top Russian diplomat, for his part, briefed his Iranian counterpart on his country's stance on the Ukrainian crisis and slammed Western states' position in this regard.

Lavrov assured Amir-Abdollahian that Russia is serious about protecting the lives of foreign citizens in Ukraine, including Iranians.

Elsewhere in the phone talks, Amir-Abdollahian said Iran would never cross its red lines in the ongoing negotiations with the five remaining parties to the JCPOA, which are underway in the Austrian capital of Vienna with the purpose of salvaging the landmark US-abandoned agreement.

For his part, Lavrov once again reiterated Russia's determination to continue cooperation with Iran in the course of the Vienna talks and said Moscow has always supported Tehran's stance.

The Iranian foreign minister further denounced the "destructive" move by the UN Security Council to adopt a draft resolution against Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement and the world body's "wrong" move to designate the Houthis as a terrorist group.

He also urged the UNSC to stop the resolution.

"Yemen belongs to all Yemenis and intra-Yemeni talks are the solution" to the crisis in the country, Amir-Abdollahian said.

Lavrov, for his turn, explained Russia's stance on the developments in Yemen.

MNA/PressTV