Tehran (IP) - In a phone conversation, Iran's Foreign Minister expressed his concern to the Russian foreign minister over the Iranian nationals living in Ukraine

Iran PressIran News: In a telephone conversation with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday, Iran's Hossein Amir-Abdollahian discussed the sanction-lifting negotiations in Vienna and said: "The Islamic Republic of Iran will not deviate from its redlines."

Iran's international nuclear agreement or the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed between the country and P5+1 countries (Russia, China, UK, Germany, France, and the US) in 2015, but the US scrapped it on May 18, 2018, re-imposing more sanctions on Iran.

The eighth round of sanctions talks begun in Vienna on December 27 is ongoing in Vienna, after a short break, but without the US. The telephone conversation between the Russian and Iranian foreign ministers comes as the world witnesses the Russia-Ukraine crisis. 

Amir-Abdollahian, therefore, expressed his concern to the Russian foreign minister over the Iranian nationals living in Ukraine and stressed: "Ensuring the safety and health of the Iranian citizens living in Ukraine is a serious priority for Tehran."

On Wednesday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin officially announced a special military operation against Ukraine. 

The Iranian FM also highlighted the crisis in Yemen and criticized the UN Security Council for issuing a resolution against the people-oriented Ansarullah Movement and calling it a terrorist group.   

Russia's FM, for his part, said Moscow always supported Iran's position in Vienna talks, had good cooperation with its Iranian friends in Vienna, and would continue the cooperation.

About the Ukrainian crisis, Lavrov blamed the Western countries for their approach to the issue. He assured that Russia was seriously concerned about protecting the lives of the people and the citizens of foreign countries, including Iran. 219