State television quoted late Sunday top Iranian nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, as saying Tehran “welcomes” talks with the five permanent U.N. Security Council members plus Germany.

Jalili spoke during a meeting with Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov.

Russia is part of the U.N. effort to ensure Iran doesn’t use its nuclear program for weapons-making purposes. Moscow has warned it could back new sanctions against Iran if it fails to take a constructive stance in the nuclear talks.

Ryabkov expressed hope the nuclear talks would be “concluded soon.”