Online Reporter
MOSCOW. — The demand for Iran to completely renounce its rights to enrich uranium for any purpose contradicts the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and Iran has the right to peaceful uranium enrichment, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.
Russia is in close contact with the Iranian authorities and does not doubt Tehran’s sincere desire to resolve the nuclear dossier issue with respect for the NPT, Lavrov said in an interview with the Al Arabiya TV channel on Wednesday.
Arab countries are now sending signals to Washington calling for restraint toward Iran and for agreements that do not infringe on Iran’s rights and guarantee exclusively peaceful uranium enrichment programmes in the country.
The second round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States concluded in Geneva on Tuesday, with new talks to be scheduled.
Meanwhile, The naval forces of Iran and Russia yesterday held a joint drill in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean, successfully carrying out a series of operations.
During the exercise, the special operation teams of the navies of Iran’s army, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and Russia successfully carried out an operation to liberate a hijacked ship, according to a report published on the Iranian army’s website.
The vessels and aerial units of the two countries also took part in the operation, which involved aerial reconnaissance, surface operations and the capture of pirates, the report said.
It added that this stage of the exercise featured the participation of Iran’s Alvand destroyer, missile-launching warships, helicopters, landing craft, special operation teams, and combat speed-boats and vessels, among others.
They enacted different arrangement scenarios and implemented offensive formations to improve tactical coordination, increase joint command and control capabilities, and practice rapid response in operational conditions, the report said.
It added that at this stage, the involved units practiced various deployment methods and combined manoeuvres.
Hassan Maqsoudlou, the drill’s spokesman, said the drill aims to improve maritime security, expand cooperation between the two countries’ navies, and improve coordination in joint operations. — Xinhua
