Iran Shows Interest in Restarting Nuclear Negotiations, Says Lavrov

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday that Iran is ready to resume full-scale negotiations over its nuclear program. Speaking during an interview for the Bridges to the East project, Lavrov stated that Tehran has maintained its commitment to diplomacy despite growing pressure and sanctions from Western nations.

“Iran is interested in this. Since January of this year, when the West began seriously preparing for the reintroduction of sanctions, Iran has consistently supported negotiations,” Lavrov said. He added that Tehran has shown “flexibility and creativity” in its approach and has avoided responding to provocations that could derail talks.

Criticism of Western Policy

Lavrov criticized the Western approach to the Iranian nuclear issue, accusing certain countries of obstructing meaningful dialogue. He said the West is doing everything possible to prevent negotiations that would include the United States and has instead focused on reviving sanctions that lack legal justification.

According to Lavrov, such measures are counterproductive and harm diplomatic progress. He described renewed sanction efforts as “outrageous,” emphasizing that Iran’s willingness to return to talks should be met with constructive engagement rather than coercion.

Talks surrounding Iran’s nuclear program have been stalled since 2022, when attempts to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 nuclear deal, failed to produce a consensus. The agreement had initially limited Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.

Russia, a signatory to the original JCPOA, has repeatedly called for reviving diplomatic discussions without imposing new restrictions or political preconditions.

Lavrov’s comments reflect Moscow’s continued support for dialogue-based conflict resolution and its opposition to unilateral Western sanctions. Iranian officials have not yet announced a specific date for resuming formal negotiations, but both Tehran and Moscow have reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation on nuclear diplomacy.