Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has urged the U.S. to engage Iran in direct negotiations, the ITAR-Tass news agency reports.
Lavrov suggested the two countries restore full diplomatic relations, affirming the contention in the Kremlin that Iran-U.S. peace "would be an important element in stabilizing the situation in the region," the report says late Monday.
Lavrov also urged the quartet of international mediators to recognize the results of Palestinian elections and reaffirmed Russia's opposition to an extension of the START-1 missile treaty, which expires in December.