Putin Sees 'Real Chance' at New Iran Talks and Rouhani Warns of 'Excessive' Demands
Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani on Monday there was "a real chance" to find a solution to the decade-old stand-off over Tehran's nuclear drive.
The Kremlin said Putin had called Rouhani to discuss the Syrian crisis as well as a new round of talks about the nuclear standoff that is set to begin in Geneva on Wednesday.
"Putin stressed that a real chance has now emerged for finding a solution to this longstanding problem," the Kremlin said in a statement.
The Kremlin added that Rouhani gave a "high grade" to Russia's role at the so-called P5+1 negotiations that besides Iran include the five permanent U.N. Security Council members and Germany.
Rouhani, meanwhile, warned against "excessive demands" by world powers at the nuclear talks.
"At the recent Geneva talks good progress was made, but everyone must realize excessive demands could complicate the process towards a win-win agreement," www.dolat.ir quoted Rouhani as telling Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Iran and the P5+1 group of nations begin a new round of talks at Geneva on Wednesday, after the two sides failed to clinch a deal in high-level, marathon negotiations earlier this month.
"From our point of view, there should not be a situation in which the will of parties to reach mutually acceptable agreement is affected," the website quoted Rouhani as telling Putin by phone.
He "thanked Russia for its position in Geneva" and stressed that Iran's nuclear drive is "peaceful and under the control" of the U.N. atomic agency.
The last round of talks between Iran and world powers earlier this month come tantalizingly close to finding a framework agreement that would have suspended some elements of Tehran's disputed program in exchange for partial sanctions relief.
The terms of the potential deal have been vehemently opposed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some powerful members of the U.S. Congress.
Netanyahu -- who views a partial suspension of sanctions as detrimental to the negotiations -- outlined his opposition to the agreement during talks with French President Francois Hollande on Sunday.
The Israeli head of state will continue his diplomatic offensive when he meets Putin in Moscow on Wednesday and receives U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday.
Source: Agence France Presse
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