Despite Russia’s alliance with Iran, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, has reportedly urged Iran to accept a US nuclear deal prohibiting uranium enrichment.
Putin is reported to have told both Donald Trump and Iranian officials he supports the agreement.
According to the American news site Axios, three European officials and one Israeli official familiar with the discussions stated that Moscow has promoted this position and that President Putin also informed French President Emmanuel Macron.
A European official reportedly stated that Putin expressed support for zero enrichment and encouraged the Iranians to work toward that goal to facilitate negotiations with the Americans. According to the official, the Iranians indicated they would not consider this proposal. An Israeli official also claimed that this is the position Putin communicated to the Iranians.
Iran’s semi-official news agency, Tasnim, reported—citing an informed source—that there was no message sent by Putin to Iran on this matter.
The United States has been attempting to negotiate an agreement with Iran after former President Trump stated that Iran should not possess nuclear weapons and authorized strikes on three of the country’s nuclear sites. Last month, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei asserted that restricting the nation’s ability to enrich uranium—which can be used for both nuclear energy and weaponry—would not align with Iran’s interests.
According to Axios, sources familiar with the negotiations have indicated that, if an agreement is reached, Russia may provide Iran with uranium enriched to 3.67 percent for use in nuclear power.
It has been reported that there are discussions to provide Iran with limited amounts of 20 percent enriched uranium for use in their Tehran research reactor and for the production of nuclear isotopes. Additionally, reports indicate that US envoy Steve Witkoff has been involved in talks regarding the resumption of nuclear negotiations, following the cancellation of a scheduled meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Oslo, Norway.
Reports of Putin’s new position follow his recent pledge to support Iran and criticize US and Israeli strikes on nuclear facilities last month.
“This is an absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran,” Putin reportedly told Araghchi.
