Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov speaks during a press conference in Moscow, Russia February 10, 2025. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi on Wednesday discussed ongoing negotiations regarding Tehran's nuclear programme with Russian counterpart Sergei Ryabkov, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
The sides addressed joint steps to stabilise the situation and "reduce the tensions artificially and unreasonably inflamed by Western countries."
The ministry said that using military force against Iran and threatening to strike its nuclear infrastructure would be "illegal and unacceptable" as they would cause "large-scale and irreversible radiological and humanitarian consequences" for the Middle East and the world.
Earlier this year, the Kremlin offered to mediate between the United States and Iran, with which Moscow signed a strategic partnership treaty in January.
U.S. President Donald Trump, in his first remarks since Iran rejected direct negotiations with Washington, told NBC News over the weekend that Tehran could face bombing and secondary tariffs if it did not reach an agreement over its nuclear programme.
(Reporting by Reuters; writing by Maxim Rodionov; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Matthew Lewis)
