Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has stressed that there is no alternative to negotiations in resolving the Western dispute over Tehran’s nuclear energy program.

Ryabkov made the remark in Brussels after a Wednesday meeting of senior diplomats from the P5+1 group comprising Britain, China, France, Russia, and the US plus Germany.

He also warned that the threat of military action against Iran could hinder the process of negotiations.

Senior diplomats from the P5+1 group met in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss the issue of negotiations with Tehran.

The P5+1 announced following the meeting that "necessary contact" with Iran would be made "in the coming days” for a new round of talks.


Iran and the P5+1 have held several rounds of multifaceted talks mainly over Iran’s nuclear energy program.

Tehran has repeatedly voiced its readiness for negotiations based on mutual respect while maintaining that it will not give up its inalienable rights under any circumstances.

Last week, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili expressed Tehran’s readiness to continue negotiations and advised the P5+1 to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.

Iran argues that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
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