Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi praised on Wednesday the Russian step-by-step initiative for settling the issue of Iran''s nuclear program. The Iranian Foreign Minister described the initiative, known as Lavrov''s Plan, as a "step forward". During a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow today, Salehi endorsed the Russian plan and praised Russia for the role they are playing. Russia made a proposal on July 13 for a step-by-step approach, according to which Iran could address questions about its nuclear program and be rewarded with a gradual easing of sanctions. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had earlier supported the Russian step-by-step plan on the Iranian nuclear program.