Russia opposes remarks, actions jeopardizing nuclear talks with Iran

All parties involved in the negotiations over the Iranian nuclear program should refrain from making remarks and taking actions that may jeopardize the talks, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday. "We urge all the parties involved to continue constructive interactions at this direction," the ministry said in a statement. On Sunday, representatives of the so-called P5+1 world powers, which comprises five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany, Iran, the European Union (EU) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) agreed the details of implementation of the first phase of an interim joint actions plan adopted in November 2013. Its implementation should start on Jan. 20, according to the agreement reached in Geneva. The plan has been drafted to scrap concerns over the Iranian nuclear program and to enhance international control over it, said the Russian foreign ministry. Under the agreement, the EU and the United States will ease sanctions against Tehran, unblocking access to 4.2 billion U.S. dollars in Iranian frozen oil revenues. In return, Iran will neutralize its 20-percent enriched uranium stockpile. Iran has also agreed to halt enrichment of uranium above 5 percent purity. "We hope that successful implementation of the first phase will bring about necessary conditions for further agreements aimed at final comprehensive solution of Iranian nuclear program," the ministry said. In November 2013, the P5+1 group and Iran reached an interim deal in Geneva, under which Iran would freeze part of its nuclear program in exchange for limited ease of sanctions which have taken a serious toll on Iran's economy. Sunday's agreement laid the ground to carry out the deal. The P5+1 group, namely Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, now have six months to continue negotiations with Iran on a permanent deal.