Iran and Russia Deputy Foreign Ministers Hold Talks on Nuclear Program

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi held discussions on Wednesday with his Russian counterpart Sergei Ryabkov about ongoing negotiations concerning Tehran's nuclear program, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The two sides addressed joint steps to stabilize the situation and "reduce the tensions artificially and unreasonably inflamed by Western countries," The Caspian Post reports citing Iranian media.

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 West Asian region 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.

US 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 program.