Russia says Iranian foreign minister to visit Moscow soon

“On January 17, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will hold talks with his Iranian counterpart, who will be in Moscow on this day on a working visit. During the talks, the sides are expected to continue an interested exchange of views on a number of topical international and regional topics, including the situation around the JCPOA on the Iranian nuclear deal, and interaction between the two countries at international platforms, including the UN, the SCO, the situation in Syria, Afghanistan, the Caucasus Region and the Caspian issue,” she stated.

“There are plans to discuss the bilateral agenda, primarily its trade and economic component in the context of the implementation of key joint projects in energy, transport and other sectors, including taking into account the transition to the final phase of the negotiation process to conclude a full-fledged agreement on a free-trade zone between the EAEU and Iran,” Zakharova added.

The United States, under former president Donald Trump, abandoned the JCPOA in May 2018 and reinstated unilateral sanctions that the deal had lifted.

The talks to salvage the agreement kicked off in the Austrian capital of Vienna in April last year, months after Joe Biden succeeded Trump, with the intention of examining Washington’s seriousness in rejoining the deal and removing anti-Iran sanctions.

Despite notable progress, the US indecisiveness and procrastination caused multiple interruptions in the marathon talks.