Big powers working on ‘difficult issue’ of Iran arms embargo

Lavrov said there are no insurmountable obstacles in reaching a deal, but the key is the quality of an agreement – not the timing.

Russian Federation is among the six world powers negotiating with Iran a permanent nuclear deal for Tehran, but talks have been complicated and deadline for the agreement postponed. “And I expect that as soon as my participation in high-level events in Ufa is over, I will be ready to join my colleagues at any time”, Lavrov said. “Lifting of the arms embargo would help Iran to raise its military capabilities in fighting against terrorism”, Lavrov added. The basic outline of an agreement would lift economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for limiting the country’s nuclear activity. But a Western official said that was “not true”.

“We’re going to resolve the last issues, if we can”, Moniz said, while Salehi told reporters he hoped Thursday was the “last day”.

The foreign minister said that Russian Federation “stands for the soonest [possible] lifting of the embargo and will back the choice to be made by the Iranian negotiators”.

President Vladimir Putin was due to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani later on Thursday in Ufa.

“Indeed, the decision as to what type of compromise and what solution will be the cornerstone of resolution of the Iranian nuclear program will be clearly made by Tehran”.