Russia wants arms embargo against Iran to be lifted

Moscow

Russia wants to see a United Nations arms embargo against Iran lifted "as soon as possible" but it is up to Tehran to accept the terms of a final nuclear deal, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

He spoke ahead of talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of a BRICS summit in the Urals city of Ufa. "We are in favour of lifting the embargo as soon as possible and will support a decision made by Iran's negotiators," Lavrov told reporters.

Russia's top diplomat stressed that the UN Security Council arms embargo had been imposed to force Iran to negotiate, a goal that had "long been reached. "Resumption of arms deliveries would help Iran combat terrorism and Islamic State radicals, he added. Iranian-backed militias are playing a key role in the fight against the jihadist group in neighbouring Iraq.

"Iran is committed to fighting IS... and lifting the arms embargo will help it improve its ability to fight against terrorism," Lavrov said.

Iran has insisted there should be changes to the UN arms embargo and an easing of restrictions on missile sales, a prospect that alarms rivals of Iran and US allies in the region. Lavrov left the talks on Iran's nuclear programme in Vienna on Tuesday to attend the summit but said he would fly back to sign the final agreement "at any moment."