Clinton in Moscow to discuss Iran, nuke cut deal

According to her aides, Clinton's visit will cover talks on a range of topics including new punitive measures against Iran and a nuclear weapons reduction treaty.

The US has been lobbying Russia and China, two veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council, for fresh sanctions against Iran.

US-led calls have had a chilly reception from China. Russia has also been reluctant to support harsh sanctions against Tehran.

During the two-day visit, Clinton will also hold talks on a new deal to replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) that expired in December.

The successor agreement, if clinched, would drastically cut the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems and would help the two states 'reset' their relations.

The former first lady will also join the meeting of the Middle East Quartet, comprising of the US, UN, EU and Russia.

The meeting comes following heightened tensions caused by Israel's recent announcement of plans to erect new settlements in occupied territories in East Jerusalem al-Quds.

Israel's settlements expansion, which is in direct violation of the international law, is considered the main obstacle to the so-called Middle East peace process.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said on March 17 that a renewal of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks would be "pointless" as long as Israel refused to freeze settlement construction activities.


/Press TV/