Iran FM to head to Moscow, discuss US nuclear talks

TEHRAN: Iran´s foreign minister is to visit ally Russia this week to discuss nuclear negotiations with the United States, ahead of a new round of talks between the foes planned for Rome.

On Saturday, Abbas Araghchi held talks with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Oman -- the highest-level negotiations since the 2015 nuclear accord collapsed. US President Donald Trump, who withdrew from the deal, has brought Iran back into the spotlight since returning to the White House in January.

In March, he sent a letter to Iran´s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling for nuclear talks while warning of possible military action if Tehran refused. Western countries, including the United States, have long suspected Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, an allegation Tehran has consistently denied, insisting its programme is for peaceful purposes.

Russia, a close ally of Iran and party to the 2015 deal, and China have engaged with Tehran in recent weeks over its nuclear programme. “Dr Araghchi will travel to Moscow at the end of the week,” said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, adding the trip was pre-planned and would be “an opportunity to discuss the latest developments related to the Muscat talks”. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed the visit, saying Araghchi would meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov and other officials.