Top Russian and U.S. diplomats have met in Moscow to discuss the situations around Iran and Syria.

The meeting on January 16 brought together Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deputy U.S. Secretary of State William Burns, and Michael McFaul, the new U.S. ambassador to Russia.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said the meeting focused on what it described as “pressing international problems, including the situation around Iran and the situation in Syria.”

No further details were given.

In recent years, Russia has backed four rounds of United Nations sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear work — but Moscow has so far declined to back calls from the United States and its allies for further international sanctions.

Russia, a traditional ally of Syria, has also so far declined to support calls by the United States and its allies for a strong UN condemnation of the Syrian regime over its crackdown on protesters.

compiled from agency reports