Sergei Ryabkov

Nuclear talks between Iran and the world's six major powers have entered their most difficult phase, but all involved parties are working on new proposals submitted by Tehran, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on July 9.

The Exterior Ministers of Iran, China, Israel, Russia, US, Germany, as well as the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Frederica Mogherini have renewed the diplomatic talks regarding the Iranian nuclear program.

Agreement on the project needs to be reached by the end of March in Geneva, leaving juts two days for active negotiations.

Russia will respond to fresh sanctions from the United States, deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said Dec. 13 after US lawmakers passed a bill to impose new penalties on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis.

"Undoubtedly, we will not be able to leave this without a response," Ryabkov told Interfax news agency.

"It is hardly any secret that the aim sanctions is to create social and economic conditions to change [the ones in] power in Russia," a deputy minister has told Russia's lower house of Parliament, the State Duma.