Russia would welcome talks between the United States and Iran but will not impose its mediation services on them, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
According to the Russian foreign minister, Moscow calls for mutually respectful dialogue without preconditions and ultimatums. "We are confident that talks cannot begin if one of the parties says: "First, we will strangle you economically and then you will beg us for an agreement." This is not a pattern of conduct we consider appropriate in relation to foreign policy," he said.
He recalled that the Iranian leadership has responded to the United States’ steps, pointing out that there will be no dialogue as long as the US continues to use blackmail and strangling sanctions in breach of the UN Security Council’s resolution.
"I would like to reiterate that we will support any kind of contacts the parties may launch based on mutual respect," TASS cited Lavrov as saying.
