"All efforts should be focused on supporting the negotiating process," Lavrov said in a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Moscow.
Clinton has visited Moscow, her first trip since becoming America's top diplomat, to assess Russia’s willingness to join the U.S. in imposing sanctions on Tehran.
Lavrov said Russia's position is that under current conditions even the threat of sanctions against Iran would be counterproductive.
“Threats, sanctions, and threats of pressure in the current situation, we are convinced, would be counterproductive,” Lavrov as quoted by the New York Times.
After a getting a cold response from Russia, Clinton claimed the United States did not make any specific requests of Russia at the meeting.
However, a day earlier, a senior official traveling with her said Washington would be looking for “specific forms of pressure” that Russia would be prepared to back.
The U.S. and a few of its European allies have been pressing Iran to freeze its uranium enrichment activities. However, Iran as a country that has signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), insists that its nuclear activities are solely aimed at producing electricity to meet the nation’s growing demand.
The International Atomic Energy Agency is monitoring all the processes of nuclear activities in Iran by installing cameras and making regular inspections.
Negotiators from Iran and the 5+1 group (France, the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and Germany) gathered in Geneva to discuss Iran’s updated package of proposals on October 1. The two sides assessed the talks as positive.
Iran and the 5+1 have agreed to meet again by the end of October.
SN/PA
END
MNA
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