DHAKA: Russian president Vladimir Putin told his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani on Monday that there was ‘a real chance’ to find a solution to the decade-old standoff over Teheran’s nuclear drive.

The Kremlin said Putin had called Rouhani to discuss the Syrian crisis as well as a new round of talks about the nuclear standoff that is set to begin in Geneva on Wednesday.

‘Mr Putin stressed that a real chance has now emerged for finding a solution to this longstanding problem,’ the Kremlin said in a statement, reports The Straits Times.

The Kremlin added that Rouhani gave a ‘high grade’ to Russia’s role at the so-called P5+1 negotiations that besides Iran, also include the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany.

BDST: 1925 HRS, NOV 18, 2013
RoR/SRS