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Iran's nuclear program

Iranian delegation leaving nuclear talks in Lausanne — deputy foreign minister

The Iranian foreign minister’s meeting with his British, French and German counterparts planned for Saturday will not take place

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (center) in Lausanne, Switzerland EPA/LAURENT GILLIERON

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (center) in Lausanne, Switzerland

© EPA/LAURENT GILLIERON

LAUSANNE, March 20. /TASS/. The Iranian delegation is leaving talks on Iran’s nuclear program in Switzerland’s Lausanne, negotiations will be resumed on March 25, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said on Friday.

"Talks are planned to be resumed on March 25," he said.

It means that the Iranian foreign minister’s meeting with his British, French and German counterparts planned for Saturday will not take place.

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US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif have been hplding talks for six days in a row.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov on Friday said the timeframe for lifting Western sanctions imposed on Iran is one of the most difficult issues at talks on Tehran’s nuclear program.

"The problems are almost the same as before although there is some progress here," Ryabkov said. "First, this is the order, the sequence and the extent of lifting the sanctions. Second, these are the restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program during the agreement’s validity period," he said.

"As we understand, these restrictions should not create invincible obstacles in this sphere, but this is a very complex and sensitive issue," the diplomat said.

Most issues - the Arak uranium enrichment facility, the enrichment level, the experimental-design works, the transparency of Iran’s nuclear program and its past military dimension - "are very politicized," he said.

"That’s why the decision on any of these issues is difficult. The sanctions issue the most difficult and also tricky one," he said.

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Tourists discover fragment of Iranian missile in Israeli desert

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There is confirmed evidence of his connections with French secret services

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Russia to hold next international security meeting in 2025 — top security official

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The Russian embassy has not yet commented on the situation

Insurers refuse to pay compensation for Nord Stream — Russian envoy to UN

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West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that, "according to some parameters, companies in Europe and other regions can hardly maintain their competitiveness if they completely abandon our products"

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EU remains unreliable partner for Russia for now — Lavrov

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Istanbul accords could have stopped hostilities in Ukraine — German newspaper

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Russian defense minister dismisses his deputy Ivanov

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The strike was conducted by Israel Air Force’s aircraft in the area of Meidoun in Lebanon

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According to Dmitry Kuzyakin, "as long as there is a lack of direct communication between those who make the tanks and who use them, the Abrams will not evolve to meet modern warfare requirements"

Chances of Baku-Yerevan conflict settlement higher than ever, Scholz says

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Kremlin spokesman describes European Parliament as 'Russophobic machine'

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The Russian defense chief is certain that "this is an important moment in strengthening security in the SCO space"

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Maria Zakharova stressed that "the level of nuclear risks have risen dramatically as a result of the West’s destructive policy, which is fraught with a direct military confrontation between nuclear powers"

Bank of Russia does not rule out keeping key rate at current levels until year's end

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Pelosi's remarks about US protesters undemocratic, Russian diplomat says

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International cooperation needed to investigate Nord Stream incidents — Russian diplomat

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EAEU trade turnover reaches record high level of $8.7 bln in 2023 — Russian Prime Minister

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Ivan Zhelokhovtsev said that the agreements that were reached during the DPRK leader's visit to Russia represent "evidence of the mutual desire of the sides to consistently implement and expand the rich heritage" that was passed down from previous generations

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Russian Economy Ministry expects trade balance surplus to decline

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Russia-Europe relations require fresh approach — Kremlin

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Yury Popov, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, also said that one shelling attack on the positions of government forces was reported in the Idlid de-escalation zone from positions of the Jabhat al-Nusra

US can send Ukraine Patriot air defense systems currently deployed in other regions

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Russia’s natural population decline shrinks by 24% yoy in January-August — statistics

The Federal Statistics Service noted that mortality in the eight months of 2023 decreased by 9.8%, and the birth rate dropped by 2.5%

Russia fights West’s sanctions at UN for the sake of developing countries — envoy to UN

According to the diplomat, Russia is engaged in "fierce battles on this issue in different committees of the General Assembly"

US-oriented structures try to reformat security system in Asia-Pacific region

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu underlined that this is being done by strengthening "military-political structures such as QUAD, AUKUS and the US-Japan-Philippines triad"

Polish leader cautions NATO allies against provoking Russia

Andrzej Duda slammed the reported instances of Russian missiles entering Poland's airspace as "a Russian provocation"

Zelensky's presidential powers to expire May 21 — Ukrainian legislator

Alexander Dubinsky argues that the only situation where the president can continue to fulfill his duties after the expiration of his term is the period until the president-elected takes office

Putin calls impending formation of new cabinet ‘crucial step’

The Russian leader pointed out that it is important to ensure stability and transparency in the Russian socio-political system

US stops hiding true purpose of sanctions on Moscow, Russian envoy says

"It’s not about any mythical aspirations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, but about banal opportunistic and predatory ambitions," Anatoly Antonov said

Russia firmly ready for peace solution in Ukraine — Kremlin spokesman

"There has been no new peace initiative, there has been a statement of the fact of Russia's readiness for a peace solution to the Ukrainian problem," Dmitry Peskov said

Medvedev warns that Russia’s default may entail Europe’s default

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council added that the European Union’s financial system is not very stable and people are losing confidence

Russian draft UNSC statement on Nord Streams sabotaged by West — Russian diplomat

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Network of international conspirators plotted Crocus terrorist attack — watchdog

Yury Chikhanchin pointed out that the perpetrators of the attack were provided with money, weapons, transportation and ammunition

Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

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Musk concurs that civil war looming in West

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Russia, India plan to launch ‘green corridor’ project in trade shortly

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TotalEnergies expects gas price hike if Russian LNG falls under sanctions

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US nukes in Poland to become target for Russia should confrontation with NATO occur — MFA

"The impression is that Warsaw is maniacally seeking to attract even more attention from military planners in the Russian General Staff," Maria Zakharova added

UN bound to stay as unique world organization — Russian ambassador

"If the UN did not exist, it should have been created," Vasily Nebenzya said

Official hand-over ceremony of 2024 Olympic Flame kicks off in Athens

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NATO bears direct responsibility for Ukraine crisis — Chinese Foreign Ministry

Spokesman Wang Wenbin stressed that China was not providing weapons to the conflicting parties and strictly controlled dual-use goods, including the export of drones

Shoigu talks about ties with NATO, attacks on Zaporozhye NPP as he attends SCO meeting

TASS has put together the highlights of Shoigu's speech