Russia says Iran ready to discuss nuclear steps
China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (right) speaks as his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov listens during a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states council meeting in Beijing on May 11, 2012. — Reuters picMOSCOW, May 23 — Iran appears ready for serious discussion of concrete steps to resolve the international standoff over its nuclear programme, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today.
Speaking in Moscow shortly before talks between Iran and six global powers were to start in Baghdad, Lavrov also said that potential new sanctions approved by the US Senate would undermine efforts to reach agreement with Iran.
He said that in expert-level meetings preparing for the talks, “we got the clear impression ... that the Iranian side is ready to seek agreement on concrete actions” under a “step-by-step” process in which it would take measures to address concerns it could be seeking nuclear weapons in return for the gradual removal of sanctions. — Reuters
