Russian has for the first time publicly encouraged the US and Iran to begin direct one-to-one negotiations over the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme, arguing that the creation of a negotiating channel between Washington and Tehran could help avert conflict.

As the US considers its next move over Iran, Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, said Moscow would like to see Washington and Tehran make direct diplomatic contact in order to avert an Israeli attack on the Iranian programme. Moscow has been directly involved in all negotiations with Iran because it is one of the six powers – the US, UK, France, Germany, Russia and China – that negotiate in a body called the E3 plus 3.

Asked in a Financial Times interview how Moscow would respond to direct US-Iran talks,