The ministry vowed Russia will continue its trade and economic cooperation with Iran, Interfax news reported.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed this week that he will attend a ministerial meeting of all members of the JCPOA nuclear deal “except the US, which withdrew from this programme.”
Federica Mogherini, EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, will chair the meeting in Vienna on Friday. The meeting is taking place at the request of Iran.
The deal between the Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany was reached three years ago in the same city.
US President Donald Trump withdrew in May and announced that sanctions will be re-imposed, beginning on August 4. Sanctions targeting Iran's oil sales will come into force in November.
The remaining signatories have gone into overdrive in efforts to salvage the deal, but no detailed plans have been released as of yet.
European lawmakers on Wednesday gave approval for the European Investment Bank (EIB) to do business in Iran, an important decision that will allow Europe to keep business ties with Iran despite US sanctions.
“We are granting the EIB the capacity to invest in Iran if suitable projects are found,” Siegfried Muresan, member of the European People’s Party (EPP), told Reuters.
“The Iran deal is good for Europe’s security,” he added.
Washington has taken a hardline stance against Iran, slamming Iran’s nuclear program and regional activities – especially in Iraq and Syria.
Russia’s Lavrov criticized “simplified” media coverage of Iran’s activities in the Middle East.
“It is alleged that Iran should leave, stay within its borders, and everything will be wonderful. This is absolutely unrealistic,” he said in a press conference with Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi in Moscow on Wednesday.
“It is impossible to seek solution to the region’s problems without the participation of its key countries, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt, to name a few,” Lavrov continued.
Iran's Hassan Rouhani has been on a European tour, trying to shore up support.
He hinted that, should the US block Iran's oil sales, Iran could retaliate by cutting off access to the Hormuz Strait - a key marine transport route for some 20 percent of world oil supplies.
The commander of the Revolutionary Guards was more direct in a speech at a memorial service in Tehran on Thursday.
“We can tell our enemies that use of the Strait of Hormuz is for all or no one,” Mohammad Ali Jafari said in comments directed at the United States.
The US military responded with a vow to keep the waterways open.
US sailors and their regional allies "stand ready to ensure the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce wherever international law allows," Capt. Bill Urban, spokesperson for US Central Command, told The Associated Press.
Updated at 7:44 pm
