WANA (Mar 12) – China’s Foreign Ministry announced that deputy foreign ministers from Iran, Russia, and China will meet in Beijing on March 14 for trilateral discussions on Iran’s nuclear program and lifting Sanctions. This meeting comes shortly after the three nations conducted a joint naval drill in waters near Chabahar Port in southeastern Iran.

 

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated in an interview on Wednesday that Russia and its partners have been discussing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear agreement from which the United States withdrew during President Donald Trump’s first term. He noted that some contacts have been made with European counterparts regarding the issue.

 

“We support a return to the original agreement endorsed by the UN Security Council, which included France, Germany, the UK, the US, Russia, China, and Iran,” Lavrov said. “We will see how things develop.”

 

However, the Russian foreign minister expressed concerns over reported U.S. intentions to attach new political conditions to any revived deal.

 

“There are signs that the Americans want to impose additional conditions, insisting on a verifiable mechanism to ensure Iran does not support groups in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, or elsewhere,” Lavrov said. “I don’t think this approach will lead anywhere.” He added, “I don’t see this as a realistic proposal.”

 

In these discussions, which are part of the ongoing consultations by the Islamic Republic of Iran with various parties, issues of mutual interest to the three countries will also be addressed, including regional and international developments, as well as topics related to cooperation within the frameworks of BRICS and Shanghai.