Unofficial translation from Russian

Moscow welcomes the American side's announcement on its readiness to join direct talks with Teheran with the aim of resolving the situation surrounding Iran's nuclear program. We are convinced that there is no reasonable alternative to a negotiated solution to this problem, just as to any other crisis situations in the contemporary world. Expanding the format of the present negotiation process on the matter, inter alia with regard for the available precedents, has long been overdue. We would sincerely wish that participation by the US in the negotiation process would lead to an improvement of American-Iranian relations, of which the crisis state for more than two decades now does not meet the interests of the peoples of the two countries. Their normalization would benefit regional and international stability and conduce to resolving other crisis situations in the region.

For its part, Russia will continue to actively participate in collective efforts for a search of a politico-diplomatic solution. In so doing we consider it important that the prospect of talks should not be impeded by attempts to threaten Teheran or place on their agenda matters not pertaining to the central task of settling the problem of Iran's nuclear program.

Today a real chance has appeared to achieve such a settlement. We urge Iran to respond to it constructively.