Iran, Russia FMs discuss military operation, nuclear talks updates

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In a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that his country "hopes to resolve the current crisis in Ukraine through diplomatic means."

"We are trying to bring Iranian citizens back from Ukraine through its neighbors," Amir-Abdollahian said, adding that "ensuring the security and health of Iranian citizens living in Ukraine is our foremost priority, and we expect to provide the suitable conditions for their safe exit."

For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized "the approach of the West towards the crisis in Ukraine," stressing that "Russia is making serious efforts to protect the lives of its citizens and the citizens of foreign countries including Iran."

On Thursday, the Kremlin said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had briefed Iranian president Ibrahim Raisi on the reasons behind and process of the Russian military operation, saying that "Raisi expressed his understanding of the Russian military operation."

Raisi also blamed the West for the destabilizing actions of the United States and NATO."

On another note, the Iranian Foreign Minister said that Iran will never cross its red lines in the Vienna negotiations, while Lavrov stressed his country's continuous support for Iran's position in Vienna.

Iran's chief negotiator in the Vienna Talks, Ali Bagheri Kani said on Thursday, "No matter how close we are to the finish line, there is not necessarily a guarantee to cross it."

Bagheri Kani added that reaching an agreement over reviving the nuclear deal "requires extra caution, much perseverance, additional creativity and balanced approach to taking the last step… To finish the job, there are certain decisions that our western interlocutors need to take."

The call comes amid a Russian special military operation in Donbass this Thursday morning, citing neo-Nazi NATO allies moving closer to his nation's border.

Russia has for months been warning of the threat posed against it by NATO's attempts to expand eastward, which happened simultaneously with an increase in NATO military activity along Russia's borders, and batches of lethal weapons being sent to Ukraine, prompting Russia to request security guarantees from the West. Washington failed to provide the guarantees.

Tensions had been soaring between Russia and Ukraine over the Donbass region and announcing it was intending to sign a decree recognizing the independence of the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) and the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). 

The announcement had been preceded by intense Ukrainian shelling of the two republics, and Russia's recognition of their statehood was a move to protect the innocent civilians from the Ukrainian aggressions.