Iran is actively seeking support from Russia in anticipation of a potential agreement with the United States regarding its rapidly advancing nuclear program. This development comes as a second round of talks is scheduled to take place in Rome this weekend.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has informed his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, of the progress made during the initial round of discussions held in Oman last week. Araghchi expressed appreciation for Russia’s involvement in the landmark 2015 nuclear deal, which resulted in the lifting of sanctions in exchange for Iran’s commitment to capping its nuclear activities. He expressed hope that Russia would continue to play a supportive role in any forthcoming agreement.
The original 2015 nuclear agreement unraveled following President Donald Trump’s unilateral withdrawal in 2018. In response, Iran has abandoned all previous limits on its nuclear activities and is now enriching uranium to levels up to 60% purity, approaching the 90% required for weapons-grade material.
Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia is prepared to mediate and assist in the nuclear discussions, emphasizing Russia’s willingness to play a role that would be beneficial to Iran and acceptable to the United States. He underscored that any agreement should focus exclusively on nuclear issues.
Araghchi also had a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where the discussions highlighted the strong political dialogue between Moscow and Tehran. While details were not disclosed, it was noted that Putin was pleased with the talks. Araghchi conveyed a message from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Putin, though no further specifics were provided.
Meanwhile, in Paris, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism about the ongoing negotiations with Iran. He emphasized the importance of achieving a peaceful and lasting resolution. Rubio also engaged with British, French, and German officials, urging them to maintain sanctions on Iran rather than allowing them to lapse.
Rubio warned that a forthcoming report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) might indicate that Iran is not only out of compliance but is also alarmingly close to developing a nuclear weapon, more so than ever before.
