Iran offers to mediate between Russia, Ukraine

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Tehran is ready to act as a mediator in the issues between Kiev and Moscow, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Thursday as the war unfolds in Ukraine and after several bids made by third parties to mediate between the two countries.

"Iran supports any diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict given its excellent ties with Russia. It is ready to mediate and help with the settlement of the crisis," the Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement citing the Islamic Republic's foreign minister.

Iran's top diplomat spoke with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, over the phone and discussed several issues.

Amir-Abdollahian criticized the use of sanctions as a tool for pressuring Russia while speaking in favor of a negotiated ceasefire in Ukraine.

The two foreign ministers also discussed the Vienna talks aimed at salvaging the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and returning the United States to it following Washington's unilateral withdrawal in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump, who accompanied his decision with the imposition of harsh sanctions on Tehran.

The Iranian senior diplomat underlined that a breakthrough was possible "if the United States acts rationally."

Russia and Ukraine have participated in negotiations in Turkey and Belarus so far, though they have not been fruitful as they did not reach any solution. However, they made strides with regard to humanitarian corridors.