Sergey Lavrov: Russia ready to play "role" in Iran's uranium file

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday that Moscow is ready to "play a role" in the issue of Iran's enriched uranium, stressing that Russia will continue its relations with Iran in full compliance with international law. Speaking at a press conference, which was aired live in Moscow following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, Lavrov pointed out that Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit China during the first half of the year, as preparations continue for a summit between the two countries' leaderships. He affirmed that Russia-China relations are strong, pointing to continued strategic coordination between the two nations. Lavrov also noted that Moscow remains open to dialogue with Kyiv and is ready to engage with Washington and resume negotiations on the Ukrainian crisis, adding that Russia-US relations are "not frozen" despite existing challenges. He stated that US sanctions against Russia remain in place, alongside what he described as discrimination against Russian companies in global markets, warning of the risks posed by the European Union's rapid and intense militarization. Lavrov further claimed that the US is encouraging the militarization of the EU in an effort to shift responsibility for Ukraine, suggesting Washington aims to task Europe with containing Russia while focusing on China. He added that Western countries are attempting to dictate how Central Asian and South Caucasus states should shape their foreign relations. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, discussions between the two sides also covered the conflict in the Middle East, the situation in the Indo-Pacific region, and the Ukrainian crisis. Preparations are ongoing for an anticipated meeting between the two countries' leaders, with the date to be announced in due course.