VIENNA, November 19 (Sputnik) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will not visit Vienna unless progress is made in talks over Iranian nuclear program, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Tuesday upon arrival in Vienna.
"There is no chance to say that Russian foreign minister will come here… when it is not clear how it will develop," Ryabkov said.
"To underline the importance of what is happening, and to provide for a ministerial level without the guarantees of reaching a result, we would not support such schemes at this stage," Ryabkov said, stressing that the talks would go to the ministerial levels only if results of the talks provide for it.
According to Ryabkov, fully accomplishing the work that "political directors and delegations are responsible for" is the main goal for the moment.
"Unless everything we are supposed to do is done, we cannot recommend to the Russian Foreign Minister to join the talks," the deputy foreign minister added.
On Tuesday, the P5+1 group commenced the final round of talks to reach a comprehensive nuclear deal over Iran's nuclear weapons program.
Western countries and Israel have repeatedly accused Iran of attempting to develop nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear program. Tehran, however, has contended that its nuclear development is purely peaceful and is aimed at meeting the country's growing energy needs.
Last November, the P5+1 group, which comprises Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, German and Iran, reached a temporary agreement to guarantee by July 2014 the peaceful intentions of Iran's nuclear program. However, the deadline was later extended to November 24, 2014.
