Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday expressed hoped that Iran could stop its uranium enrichment and respond constructively to the fuel swap deal brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA.
At a Jerusalem news conference after holding talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Lavrov recalled the proposal of Russia, the United States and France to hold an IAEA meeting with Iranian experts to address issues of supply of fuel for Tehran's research reactor, according to reports from Russian news agencies, Xinhua reported.
The Russian diplomat stressed that such a meeting was planned "with the understanding that the 20 percent uranium enrichment will stop."
"I hope Iran will respond constructively as it will help settle the situation, which raises concerns," Lavrov said.
He also reiterated Russia's firm adherence to the latest UN Security Council resolution on Iran over the supply of S-300 air defense systems.
"Russia strictly obeys all of the Security Council's resolutions. In practice, such resolutions are implemented through decrees issued by the president of the Russian Federation," Lavrov said.
"The decree will make it absolutely clear which types of weapons fall under the recently adopted resolution," he added.
Iran struck a deal to buy S-300 systems in 2007, but Russia has delayed delivery of the anti-aircraft missiles.
The S-300 air defense system is an advanced mobile system that can shoot down aircraft and cruise missiles from up to 150 km away. The United States and Israel oppose the sale of the missiles to Iran.
Earlier this month, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to impose a fourth round of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.