Iran, Russia discuss bilateral ties, other issues after IAEA resolution

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov have had a telephone conversation following the recent resolution passed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The monitoring agency had demanded in a resolution that Tehran’s must inform it “without delay” of the status of its enriched uranium stock and access to “enable the agency do its job”.

The conversation which held via telephone also touched on “bilateral ties, and regional and international developments”.

Tehran said on Friday it had withdrawn from a deal IAEA reached last September in Cairo, Egypt after the agency’s Board of Governors passed a resolution on Thursday.

In a statement released by Russia’s Foreign Ministry, it said, “The conversation focused on regional security,” without giving specific details about what was discussed.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi referred to Tehran’s diplomatic initiatives and consultations with regional countries aimed at strengthening regional peace and stability, and “stressed the importance of continuing this process with the participation of all relevant parties.”

“Lavrov considered the formation of a regional consultation and cooperation framework as an appropriate method for resolving issues between regional countries and announced Moscow's readiness to continue close coordination with Tehran in this regard,” read Iran’s press release.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran withdrew from the Cairo agreement on Friday.

“Iran considers the resolution approved by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which was adopted under pressure of the United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom as illegal and unjustified,” read the statement issued on Friday.

Iran suspended its ties with the IAEA and ceased the nuclear negotiations with the United States mediated by Oman in the wake of airstrikes by Israel and US on its major civilian nuclear sites in June.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed earlier that IAEA officials inspected some Iranian sites including Tehran Research Reactor last week after receiving the clearance from the Supreme National Security Council which is required by a legislation passed by Parliament.

Iran had laid down the condition that it will consider the new cooperation agreement null and void if UN nuclear sanctions were reimposed, but it did not act after the sanctions were reinstalled in September.

China and Russia who are permanent members of the UN Security Council wielding the veto power, voted against return of UN nuclear sanctions on Iran.

They had tabled a joint draft resolution at the Security Council to postpone return of the sanctions.

Last week, ahead of the IAEA board meeting in Vienna, Austria, Araghchi and Lavrov discussed the planned meet over a telephone call.

They reviewed the situation within the IAEA Board of Governors “where France, the UK and Germany have been seeking to launch an anti-Iranian campaign”, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.

“They reaffirmed their shared commitment to fully carrying out the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Russia and Iran,” it added.

Iran and Russia signed the strategic treaty in January 2025 which came into effect on October 2 and is valid for 20 years.

In 2021, Iran and China signed a 25-year cooperation agreement to further develop their existing relations but unlike the Russian treaty, its provisions are not publicised.

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