Russia's Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov arrived in Tehran Sunday morning for talks on Iran's disputed nuclear program, Iranian Fars news agency reported.
During his visit, Ivanov is scheduled to hold talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani, Fars said.
The diplomatic sources said that Ivanov's visit is "crucially important" and Iran and Russia are now endeavoring to work out a new formula for the nuclear standoff.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Saturday that Tehran would welcome a "comprehensive formula" for solving the disputes over its nuclear program.
"Iran's consultations with countries on its peaceful nuclear activities are aimed at reaching a comprehensive formula," Mottaki was quoted by the official IRNA news agency as saying.
Mottaki made the remarks in a press conference after a meeting with his Byelorussian counterpart Sergei Martynov.
"Tehran will examine different proposals" in the talks, Mottaki said. "A comprehensive formula will preserve Iran's rights as well as remove certain concerns."
The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1737 on Dec. 23, 2006, demanding Iran to "suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, and work on all heavy water-related projects."
The resolution also called on all states to impose a ban on trade with Iran in goods related to its nuclear program and ballistic missile delivery systems.
Iranian officials have rejected the resolution as an "illegal measure" and vowed to continue the country's nuclear program.
Source: Xinhua