High-ranking Iranian diplomat in Moscow for talks on disarmament

Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 4

By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:

Director General of Political Affairs and International Security of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Hamid Baidinejad left Tehran for Moscow on Feb. 4, ISNA news agency reported.

The Iranian diplomat is making the trip to hold bilateral talks with Russian officials on issues related to disarmament and also to conduct necessary coordination on Iran's nuclear negotiations.

The disarmament topic will cover talks on the next Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) summit as well as other treaties forbidding the proliferation of mass destruction weapons as well as ways and means to create a nuclear and mass destruction weapon-free region of the Middle East.

The two sides will also review Iran's ongoing nuclear negotiations with the P5+1 countries(- the US, France, the UK, China, Russia, and Germany) - where Russia acts as a supporter of the Iranian cause in making peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Talks between Iran and the P5+1 group have been extended until July 1, 2015 to reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement.

After the sides failed to meet the 24 Nov. 2014 deadline they also extended the Geneva nuclear deal, which was signed in November 2013 for providing Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Tehran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities.

The US and its Western allies suspect Iran of developing a nuclear weapon - something that Iran denies.