Updated 10:23 p.m. Moscow Time
VIENNA, October 16 (RIA Novosti) – Iran is seriously interested in closing the issue of its nuclear program and is not playing tactical games, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Thursday.
"[I] am sure that Iran is not playing any tactical games here. I think it [Tehran] is seriously interested in resolving the issue and moving on," Ryabkov told Russian journalists after today's round of talks on Iran's nuclear program.
"[Iran] quite reasonably insists that the issue be closed, not simply appear to be closed because that could allow for raising the issue again due to circumstances or political reasons," he added.
The agreement on Iran's nuclear program was initially to be reached by July 2014 but the deadline for was later moved to November 24.
The West has accused Iranian authorities of attempts to develop nuclear weapons under the pretext of a civilian nuclear program. Tehran, however, contended that its nuclear development was only aimed at addressing Iran's growing energy needs and achieving other peaceful goals.
The previous round of negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group of international mediators, including Russia, China, France, the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany, was held in September in New York, failing to yield any results, as the parties did not agree on any of the key issues.
