Putin Says 'Substantial Progress' Made In Nuclear Talks With Iran

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said “substantial progress” has been made in negotiations between Iran and six world powers on Tehran's nuclear program.

In an interview published by Egypt's state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram on February 9, Putin said, "The crucial point is that nobody should try to derive unilateral benefit from the situation or to bargain out more than what is needed for a balanced and just resolution of this complicated issue."

Putin's remarks come a day after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he supports a "good" nuclear compromise with world powers in which neither side gets everything they want.

The United States, Britain, China, France, and Russia, plus Germany, are negotiating with Iran for permanent nuclear agreement that would ensure Iran is not developing nuclear weapons in exchange for a lifting of economic sanctions.

After missing two self-imposed deadlines last year, negotiators are trying to reach agreement on a political framework by March and a comprehensive deal by June 30.

With reporting by Al-Ahram