Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, will travel to Tehran only days before the G5+1 meets with Iran’s delegation in Moscow.
AFP reports that Lavrov will visit Iran on Wednesday June 13 to discuss issues concerning the Moscow talks as well as the Syrian crisis.
Russia is organizing an international conference on Syria in order to promote Kofi Annan’s peace plan.
Lavrov has insisted on Iran’s presence at the conference, while the United States, Britain and France have spoken against Iran’s inclusion.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has said: “Without the cooperation of Iran, effective pressure over Syria will not be achieved.”
On June 18 and 19, Moscow will host the third round of recent talks between Iran and the world powers over Iran’s nuclear program.
The talks will take place only two weeks before a severe EU sanction on Iranian oil exports takes effect. Beginning July 1, all European Union countries will observe an oil embargo on Iranian petroleum exports.
