Russia insists on linking sanctions to nuclear talks, Iran stands firm

Moscow wants a written US guarantee that its trade, investment & military-technical cooperation with Iran would not be hindered by Western sanctions

Iran said on Monday it would not be dictated to by foreign interests, after Russia appeared to link efforts to revive a deal over its nuclear programme to sanctions over Ukraine, which Moscow's envoy to Tehran called a misunderstanding.

A deal over reviving Iran's 2015 pact with world powers seemed close, all parties to negotiations in Vienna said on Friday after months of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington.

But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov added uncertainty on Saturday, saying Moscow wanted a written U.S. guarantee that its trade, investment and military-technical cooperation with Iran would not be hindered by Western sanctions