Russia says received US guarantees on Iran nuclear deal

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov yesterday said that Moscow had received written guarantees from Washington on its ability to trade with Tehran as part of ongoing talks to salvage the Iran nuclear deal. More than 10 months of talks in Vienna have brought major powers close to renewing the landmark 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on regulating Iran's nuclear programme. The negotiations halted after Moscow earlier this month demanded guarantees that Western sanctions imposed following its military incursion into Ukraine would not damage its trade with Iran. Meanwhile, Iran has arrested several suspected members of a spy network linked to arch foe Israel, foiling its attempt to sabotage a key underground nuclear facility, state media reported.