Moscow hopes for a major shift in the settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue during a new round of negotiations between the 'six' international mediators and Iran in Almaty on February 26, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
"In spite of everything I would like to hope that the upcoming round will lead not to just a breakthrough, but a serious shift. Up till now we have not moved forward since June last year. Plenty time has elapsed," he said, adding that the parties interested in resolving the Iranian nuclear issue should "increase the pace" and the upcoming round of negotiations "will show whether there is a political will to do so".