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 In Australia for a meeting of the G20 major and developing
economies, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters six
world powers and Iran had never been so close to an agreement and it
could be reached by a Nov. 24 deadline.
"Therefore, from (Nov.) 18 to 24 there is enough time for such
decisions to be taken," he said.
"But there is no guarantee that these decisions will be taken in
those capitals where there are the biggest problems with current
solutions, I mean, Washington and Tehran."
The six powers -- Russia, China, the United States, France, Britain
and Germany -- want to ensure Iran's nuclear program does not enable
it to build nuclear weapons, though Iran says its nuclear work is
for civil needs.
 Ryabkov said Moscow would continue to cooperate with Washington on
Iran and Syria despite a rift in ties hours after U.S. President
Barack Obama said Moscow's actions in Ukraine were a threat to the
world.
"Talks on Iran and Syria are not a tribute to fashion or momentary
interests and even less so are an intention to 'please' the United
States," he said.
"This cooperation meets our interest and helps to normalize the
global situation, and we will keep on doing it. If it had been for
other reasons, we would have folded this activity long ago."
Some officials, including from Russia, have expressed doubts a deal
can be reached in the timeframe.
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Ryabkov also said that after President Vladimir Putin and Obama
spoke in China on the sidelines of a summit, there had been no new
impulse for "the normalization" of bilateral relations.
Ties between Moscow and Washington have plunged to lows unseen since
the Cold War over Ukraine, where Russia annexed Crimea in March and
is accused by the West of sending arms and soldiers to support a
separatist rebellion in its east.
Moscow denies the charges and has criticized the United States for
imposing sanctions on Russia over Ukraine.
"Responsibility for the stagnation in our relationship is entirely
on the U.S. side," Ryabkov said.
"The relations with the United States are in a bad condition and it
will take a very long time to normalize and stabilize them," he
said. "But effort is needed on both sides."
(Writing by Alexei Anishchuk and Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Simon
Cameron-Moore and Dale Hudson)
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