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Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated his willingness to assist the Trump administration in facilitating negotiations with Iran regarding its nuclear program and its backing of groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, according to informed sources.
The initial discussion about potential talks occurred during a February phone conversation between Trump and Putin, followed by subsequent diplomatic exchanges in Saudi Arabia, Bloomberg reports, citing anonymous sources who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.
Neither Moscow nor Tehran has officially acknowledged or denied the request, and the White House has yet to respond to Bloomberg’s inquiry for comment.
🚨 BREAKING: Putin will help Trump talk to Iran about its nuclear program and regional proxies – Bloomberg.
The Goal is a verified Nuclear Peace Deal. pic.twitter.com/zSzjfEHobE
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When asked about the matter, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that “Russia believes that the United States and Iran should resolve all problems through negotiations.” He further noted that Moscow “is ready to do everything in its power to achieve this.”
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei addressed the situation during a Monday press conference in Tehran, stating that “It’s natural” for nations to extend assistance given the importance of the issues at hand. He added, “It’s possible that many parties will show good will and readiness to help with various problems. From this perspective, it’s natural that countries will present an offer of help if it’s needed.”
Sources familiar with the discussions reveal that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, alongside other senior officials, explored Washington’s interest in Russian mediation during their February 18 meeting in Riyadh. Araghchi later confirmed in a press conference that Lavrov shared details of this meeting during their subsequent conversation in Tehran.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has displayed contradictory positions regarding Iran. While advocating for a return to his previous “maximum pressure” strategy, he simultaneously expresses interest in immediately pursuing a “verified nuclear peace agreement with Iran.”
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The relationship between Russia and Iran has strengthened under mutual U.S. sanctions, with Tehran supplying numerous drones for Russia’s operations in Ukraine. However, Iranian hardliners controlling the military and judiciary remain publicly opposed to U.S. engagement, potentially resisting even Russian-mediated approaches.
In February, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed distrust toward Trump, citing his withdrawal from the Obama-era nuclear deal during his first term, and maintained Iran’s resistance to negotiation pressure. President Masoud Pezeshkian, while supporting the nuclear deal’s revival, aligns with Khamenei’s opposition to discussions while U.S. sanctions remain in place.
Qatar University’s Gulf Studies Center associate professor Nikolay Kozhanov suggests that while both nations seek productive communication channels, reaching an understanding would be “complex,” requiring U.S. sanctions relief in exchange for Iran limiting its regional ambitions.
