Ladies and gentlemen,

The Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and I had a substantive discussion. We reaffirmed that our relations are based on the age-old traditions of friendship and neighbourliness. Proactive top- and high-level political contacts have provided a new impetus to their continued development.

We reiterated our mutual commitment to further promoting cooperation with a focus on trade and economic relations, and emphasised that both countries are interested in taking our relations to a new level, above all by following up on the agreements between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani.

We discussed the key issues on the international agenda, and affirmed that our approaches to most of them either converge or coincide. We agreed to continue close consultations on various issues related to strengthening global and regional security and stability.

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We also discussed developments related to the Iranian nuclear programme. Russia has consistently advocated solutions that respect Iran’s right to a peaceful nuclear programme, including the right to enrich, if the programme is subject to oversight from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and if issues raised during cooperation between Iran and the IAEA are addressed. We hope that the ongoing “six plus one” talks will help bring about such a solution.

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We are satisfied with the results of our talks, which will undoubtedly encourage broader ties between Russia and Iran. We also coordinated upcoming meetings at the political level. I’m sure that we both have things to report back to the presidents of our countries.

Question (to both ministers): A memorandum of mutual understanding was signed on the eve of the meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in Tehran. What do you think about the prospects of cooperation between Russia and Iran?

Sergey Lavrov (responding after Mohammad Javad Zarif): I agree with my colleague. We proceed from the premise that economic ties between Russia and Iran primarily concern our states and governments. These relations are developing in the interests of our nations. They do not harm anyone and are fully consistent with the norms of international law in the trade and economic sphere.

As I’ve already said in my opening remarks today, we discussed the successful implementation of the agreements concluded by the presidents of Russia and Iran at their meeting in Shanghai in May. We stated that these efforts allow us to take our trade and economic relations to a new level in all spheres, including energy. In our estimate, it is realistic not only to restore pre-sanction levels of trade and economic cooperation but to surpass them. This is in the interests of Russia and Iran, and we’ll work towards this goal.

Question (addressed to Mr Zarif): Considering the importance of Russia’s role in the talks of the six world powers on Iran and the friendly nature of Russian-Iranian relations, how can Russia help solve the dispute over the Iranian nuclear programme?

Sergey Lavrov (adds after Mr Zarif): We are doing everything we can to ensure that negotiations on the Iranian nuclear programme – the 6+1 process – are fair, respectful of the interests of all parties, and free of attempts to gain unilateral advantage. Such attempts are being made. Let’s give ourselves credit for the universally acknowledged fact that the 6+1 talks resumed owing to Russia’s consistent advocacy of the principles of phasing and reciprocity. This was not easy, despite the fact that no one should reject these principles. Still, it took us some time to achieve this.

It was these principles that we consistently advocated that formed the basis of the package that was eventually agreed in November 2013 and allowed the sides to complete the first phase of the agreement with reasonable success. Based on the agreements that have been reached, the negotiating process is now focused on a search for a final comprehensive solution that resolves all related issues – how Iran’s nuclear programme will proceed and how the sanctions will be lifted. We’ll try to keep alive the spirit of cooperation that prevailed in November 2013 in Geneva in order to ensure the success of these efforts.

During the final stage it is very important to avoid the temptation felt by some of partners to use the pressure of the looming deadline to extract more concessions than necessary for a balanced and fair package. It is very important to keep the red lines in sight at this point and to think not only about one’s own interests, which is only natural, but also about global tasks (non-proliferation, not establishing new precedents) which can be addressed without harming anyone’s specific positions on the basis of a carefully calibrated balance of interests. We are ready for this and will be working to ensure that this approach prevails.

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Question: Trade between Russia and Iran amounts to about $5 billion a year. That’s not much for two countries that share positions, including on the Middle East. Do you plan to increase trade between our countries, especially considering that both our countries have been sanctioned?

Sergey Lavrov: We discussed ways to expand our economic ties today. There are agreements between our presidents that are already being implemented – the bilateral commission on trade and economic cooperation will meet again in the first half of September. I’m sure that it will take additional decisions designed to further expand our cooperation in this sphere.

Question: With extremists and terrorists operating in the Middle East, will it be possible to build an international coalition with the participation of Russia, Iran and other countries?

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We've talked a lot about the importance of ensuring Iran’s full participation in addressing all regional problems. Our Western partners have regularly put forward various conditions for Iran’s participation in different forums, saying that the Iranian nuclear problem must be resolved before discussing cooperation in regional affairs. I believe that circumstance will cause them to rethink their biased approach. The consultations on Afghanistan held in Moscow yesterday, where combatting international terrorism was a primary focus, are a case in point. We discussed this issue with Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. These consultations also involved representatives of Russia, Iran, China, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States. That is, things can be arranged when necessary. I’m sure that this is the way to address other regional issues, including terrorism.