A readout of the meeting by CCTV said the three diplomats “exchanged views on the Iran nuclear issue and other issues of common concern”.
Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi attended the talks in Beijing.
Beijing has said it hopes Friday’s meeting will “strengthen communication and coordination, to resume dialogue and negotiation at an early time”.
The United States withdrew from the landmark 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which had imposed curbs on Tehran’s nuclear development in return for sanctions relief, during US President Donald Trump’s first term.
Tehran adhered to the agreement for a year after Washington’s withdrawal but then began rolling back its commitments. Efforts to revive the pact have since faltered.
Trump recently sent a letter to Tehran urging nuclear talks, warning of possible military action if it refuses.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded that he would not negotiate with the US while being “threatened”, and Iran would not bow to US “orders” to talk.
Iran has long denied that it is working on developing a nuclear weapon. But the International Atomic Energy Agency warned last month that Tehran was “dramatically” accelerating enrichment of uranium to near the roughly 90 percent weapons-grade level. (AFP/Reuters)
