Russia does not want US-Iran war, former US negotiator says
A former US nuclear negotiator with Iran says Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want a military conflict between Washington and Tehran over the nuclear program.
"The Russians don't like to see the US going around the world, bombing countries," Gary Samore was quoted as saying by the Associated Press on Wednesday.
He said that the United States and Russia have common interests over a possible nuclear agreement between Iran and the world powers despite their problems over the Ukraine crisis.
Samore, who was at the nuclear negotiations until 2013, was referring to earlier threats by President Barack Obama that all options, including military option, are on the table regarding the nuclear issue.
Representatives from Iran and the P5+1 group of countries – the US, Russia, China, Britain, France, and Germany – are working together to finalize a nuclear deal.
The two sides extended their self-imposed end-of-June deadline one more week. The deadline is extended to July 7.
On Tuesday, the US president expressed hope a final deal could be reached.
“There is still some hard negotiating to be done,” he said.
Obama said the framework agreement reached in April, “if implemented effectively and codified properly, would in fact achieve my goal.”
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov echoed similar views and said a final accord is "within reach."
"The situation at the talks is progressing in a positive direction. There remain questions, mostly regarding procedural issues rather than technical. We have all reason to believe that results are within reach," Lavrov said.
He made the remarks after a meeting with his American counterpart John Kerry in the Austrian capital city of Vienna on Tuesday.
Lavrov noted that the deputies and political directors of the world powers have been instructed “to do everything necessary to reach an agreement in the upcoming days."
AGB/AGB
Russia: Poland’s talks on hosting US nuclear weapons ‘dangerous’
Russia says weighs downgrading ties with US if assets are seized
Iran urges US to stop support for Israel as university revolt spreads
Iran: US lacks competence to comment on human rights, freedom of expression
It could take 14 years to remove debris left by Israel war on Gaza: UN
Iran, China discuss military cooperation
Sanders to Netanyahu: 'Don’t insult American people’s intelligence'
Tehran economic conference: Raeisi hails Iran-Africa expansion of ties
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Severe heat wave hits India as phase 2 of polling begins
What to expect after President Raeisi's visit to Pakistan
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
