Question: Why are we helping to lift the anti-Iranian sanctions if this can collapse the price of oil and hence be detrimental for Russia? Are we acting contrary to national economic interests for the sake of world peace?

Sergey Lavrov: The Middle East and North Africa have been shaken by a series of quakes recently, including the rise of extremism and terrorism and increasing ethnic and religious differences. These flames have engulfed Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Libya, and the situation in many other countries is not quiet either. A continued deterioration there would have an extremely negative effect on international stability and the interests of many countries, including Russia, whose southern borders are a short distance away.

Russia has been acting consistently for a political settlement of conflicts, a solution of the numerous regional problems and the success of multilateral efforts towards this end. In particular, Russian diplomats have greatly contributed to the framework agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme reached in Lausanne. We believe that the further movement towards this goal and the early lifting of the anti-Iranian sanctions, both the UN Security Council restrictions and all the other unilateral restrictions, will be fully in keeping with our national interests.

Iran is our old partner and our relations are based on traditions of friendship and neighbourliness. We are confident that the easing of tensions around Iran will advance bilateral trade and economic relations and will consequently greatly benefit Russia. We also believe that Tehran’s full-scale contribution to regional affairs will also contribute to security in the Persian Gulf and neighbouring regions.

Stability in the vast region of the Middle East and North Africa will normalise the situation in the regional countries and remove obstacles to the revival of full-scale foreign economic exchanges, which will help promote mutually beneficial trade and economic relations between Russia and the regional countries and strengthen the positions of Russian companies in this highly promising market.

Overall, Russia is a consistent opponent of the use of pressure in international relations and the restriction of the countries’ legitimate rights for mercenary and selfish reasons. This is a short-sighted policy that usually backfires at its authors. We believe that the search for a reasonable balance of interests and cooperative efforts to resolve common issues meet the realities of the modern interdependent world. We think that this approach should also be applied in the energy sphere. In the current conditions, energy producers and consumers should join forces to smooth over the excessive volatility of prices and to ensure a normal operation of markets. And lastly, I’d like to remind you that there are no UN Security Council restrictions on the export of Iranian oil and gas. Tehran never stopped selling its hydrocarbons to those countries that do not fear the illegitimate Western restrictions and also those that have cut a deal with Washington.