Speaking after a bilateral meeting with his Belgian counterpart Didier Reynders, Lavrov asked participants in the Iran nuclear talks taking place in Geneva to seek a diplomatic solution to end the long-standing standoff.

“With regards to Iran, we have said from the beginning that all participants in the negotiations must clearly state that they … seek solutions to the problems voiced by the International Atomic Energy Agency,” Lavrov said.

After all these problems have been clarified, all the sanctions and other obstacles to Iran's participation in international affairs will be removed, Lavrov added.

Russian Foreign Minister said the aim of the talks is to end a decade-old standoff over Iran's contested nuclear program that has raised the risk of a new Middle East war. 

“The Islamic Republic began negotiations in earnest with the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany two months after President Hassan Rouhani took office promising conciliation over confrontation in relations with the world.” He noted.

“Iran appeared keen for a negotiated settlement to win relief from sanctions,” he stressed.

The second round of negotiations between Iran and the six major world powers over Tehran’s nuclear energy program has come to an end in Geneva on Tuesday evening.

The second session of talks, which was held on Tuesday afternoon, was attended by the deputy foreign ministers from Iran, the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany behind closed doors.

The first round was opened by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton. Zarif presented Iran’s proposal titled “Closing an Unnecessary Crisis, and Opening a New Horizon” during the Tuesday morning session of talks.

NJF/NJF