“Russia says clearly the recognition of all rights of Iran under [the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,] including the right to enrichment in exchange for the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) control over Iran's nuclear program, is the final model. This can be spread out to any depth,” Itar-Tass news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying on Saturday.
Ryabkov added that if such a deal is reached, all sanctions against Iran should be lifted.
The Russian official expressed hope that the next round of talks between Iran and the P5+1 (Britain, China, France, Russia, and the US plus Germany) would bring a breakthrough.
Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany wrapped up their latest round of negotiations on Saturday in the Kazakh city of Almaty.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a press conference on Saturday that the two sides “remain far apart on the substance” of the talks. She added, however, “Indeed, we have talked in much greater detail than ever before, and our efforts will continue in that direction.”
“For the first time, I’ve seen a real back and forward between us, where we were able to discuss details to pose questions and to get answers directly on the sort of issues that we need to discuss in order to be able to move forward. To that extent, that has been a very important element,” the EU foreign policy chief said.
Ashton also said she will be in touch with Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili “very soon in order to see how to go forward.”
After the Saturday meeting, Jalili said Tehran has given a comprehensive operational plan to the P5+1 and it is now up to the group to decide on how to respond to the Iranian proposals.
Tehran and the P5+1 have held several rounds of talks. The previous round of talks took place in Almaty on February 26-27.
