Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian had a phone conversation with Vladimir Putin on Monday ahead of critical nuclear talks with European powers in Geneva, as the end-August deadline for the reimposition of UN sanctions looms.
In the phone call, Putin expressed optimism that talks on the "snapback" mechanism would reach a “desirable result," according to Iran's readout of the call.
Pezeshkian's conversation with Putin took place on the eve of a meeting between the deputy foreign ministers and political directors of Iran, France, Britain, and Germany Geneva.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said the Geneva talks would focus on the UN Security Council Resolution 2231, Iran’s nuclear program, and the removal of sanctions, as Europe’s deadline for restoring UN sanctions on Iran under the Resolution's "snapback" mechanism nears.
A French diplomat told Al Arabiya that the Tuesday talks with Tehran in Geneva represent “Iran’s last open window.”
In his phone call with Putin, Pezeshkian thanked Moscow for supporting Tehran’s “right to enrichment,” reiterating that Iran has never sought nuclear weapons under its religious and defensive doctrine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier held a separate phone call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, according to the Russian foreign ministry.
Lavrov expressed Moscow’s readiness to participate in efforts to secure an agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program and help normalize the situation.
Moscow stressed its willingness to continue “effective participation in diplomatic efforts” to strengthen stability and security in the Middle East.
Araghchi, in turn, briefed Lavrov on his Friday talks with counterparts from EU, Britain, Germany, and France regarding the nuclear file.
On Friday, EU foreign policy chief urged Iran to engage with the United States and cooperate with the IAEA to avert the return of UN sanctions, following what she called an important phone call with the foreign ministers of Iran, UK, France and Germany.
"Europe is committed to a diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue. With the deadline for the snapback mechanism fast approaching, Iran’s readiness to engage with the US is crucial. Iran must also fully cooperate with the IAEA."
Before the 12-day war, Tehran and Washington held five rounds of nuclear talks, but negotiations collapsed when Islamic Republic officials insisted uranium enrichment must continue inside Iran.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Sunday rejected calls by Tehran moderates for direct negotiations with the United States, insisting that Washington’s hostility cannot be resolved through talks.
