Russia won’t mediate nuclear talks with EU, says Iran envoy

Iran's Ambassador to Russia says that Tehran does not anticipate Moscow taking on a mediating role between Iran and the European Union in negotiations concerning Iran's nuclear program.

"One cannot expect Russia to mediate between us and Europe, as Russia itself is in a state of war and deadlock with European countries and the international structure," Kazem Jalali told Sputnik.

In the interview, Jalali said that Iran remains untroubled by its neighboring countries but is increasingly wary of foreign interference within the region, which he says complicates regional relations.

“The presence of foreigners in our region can complicate relations, and Western countries generally try to intervene in the internal affairs of regional countries to shift everything in their favor,” Jalali added.

He said that Iran’s nuclear activities continue under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) oversight and “if major powers do not engage in excessive demands, the nuclear issue of the Islamic Republic of Iran is resolvable.”

The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) once restricted Iran's nuclear ambitions, but the US withdrew from the accord in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump, who re-imposed sanctions on Iran’s oil and banking sectors.

These restrictions have persisted, with the US and regional allies pressing Iran for compliance guarantees before considering any sanction relief. Iran, meanwhile, has expanded uranium enrichment beyond JCPOA limits, which has fueled concerns among Western powers about potential weaponization—a claim Tehran denies.

Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization said on Wednesday that Russia remains dedicated to assisting Iran in developing phases two and three of the Bushehr nuclear power plant.

According to Eslami, Russian President Vladimir Putin assured Iran of Russia’s commitment to completing these projects, which are part of Iran’s broader nuclear energy strategy aimed at alleviating domestic energy shortfalls.

Iran's dependence on nuclear energy arises from decades of limited investment in alternative energy sources, especially renewables, resulting in a lack of diversification that makes the country susceptible to energy shortages, particularly given its global isolation.

Currently, Russia is Iran's sole partner in its nuclear industry. The Bushehr power plant, launched by Russia in 2011, operates a single reactor producing 1,000 megawatts, which accounts for less than two percent of Iran's total electricity output. However, construction on the second and third phases of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant has reportedly gained momentum.

The Bushehr reactor remains unaffected by the ongoing nuclear dispute between the West and Iran, as Russia controls the nuclear fuel cycle for this facility.