Alexander Skakov: Iran expects retaliatory steps from six international powers

Last week, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the plans for hosting
the next round of negotiations between Iran and the six international
powers from June 18 to 19 in Moscow. Previous talks were held
in the Iraqi capital from May 23 to 24, RIA Novosti reports.


Russia intends to carefully prepare for the upcoming talks in Moscow,
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"So far to date, Iran has made a step towards the West and the
Americans, but there has been no reciprocal action from the West
towards Iran. If this tendency continues, Iran of course will not
undertake any action," the coordinator of the Working Group for the

Caucasus and Central Asia of the Institute of Oriental Studies, expert
of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies Alexander Skakov said
in an interview to VK.

The six international powers have presented special proposals to the
Iranian side on the resolution of the nuclear safety problem,
including possible solutions for allowing Iran to enrich uranium only
up to 20 per cent. In turn, the Iranian side expressed its readiness
to further discuss the issues of 20-percent enrichment and a number of
other issues.

The expert expressed his concerns about the future escalation of the
situation. He said that according to the logic the West should
undertake the moves. Alexander Skakov believes that the lack of
actions from the West is due not to concerns of the West over Iran's
nuclear program, but with the ambition to bring Iran out of the big
game.