Iran's FM Arrives In Moscow To Discuss Nuclear Talks, Ukraine Crisis

Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has arrived in Moscow to hold talks with Russian officials, on Iran's nuclear issue and the Ukraine crisis.

At the start of talks on Tuesday Amir-Abdollahian expressed hopes his visit would lead to Russian support for a "good, stable and strong nuclear deal," Iran's semi-official ISNA news agency reported. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his Iranian counterpart that agreement on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal known as JCPOA, was in the finishing straight.

Amir-Abdollahian’s visit was announced on Monday, days after negotiation in Vienna came to a halt after Russia made a last-minute demand. On March 5, Lavrov said that along with an agreement in Vienna Moscow should get written guarantees from Washington that sanctions imposed for the invasion fo Ukraine will not impact its relations with Tehran.

The United States and Europe have rejected the Russian demand, saying that a nuclear agreement with Iran is not related to the Ukraine crisis.

The official IRNA news website quoted the foreign minister as saying that he will also discuss the Ukraine crisis with Russian officials. On Monday, Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted that he has spoken with his Iranian counterpart and asked him to pass on a message to Moscow: “Russia must stop bombing civilians, commit to the ceasefire, and with draw from Ukraine.”