Russia and US to discuss Iran nuclear issue, Moscow says

Russia suggested to the United States that the two powers should hold talks focused on Iran's nuclear program, the Kremlin confirmed on Wednesday, in yet another sign of converging outlooks on global affairs by Washington and Moscow.

"The topic of Iran was on agenda, it was touched upon but not in detail," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a call with reporters on Wednesday, referring to talks between Russia and the US in Riyadh last month.

"We suggested making it a separate subject of our dialogue and our consultations in the future," Peskov added. "Russia's position is that the issue of Iran’s nuclear dossier needs to be solved only through political and diplomatic means ... Russia is ready to do everything possible for it."

Moscow and Tehran signed a strategic cooperation treaty in January which both said would further strengthen ties that have been growing in the last few years.

Russia has relied on Iranian-made drones in its war in Ukraine, while Iran has sought deeper economic and military ties with Moscow to counter US-led sanctions.

President Donald Trump's efforts to end the war in Ukraine may pave the way for further cooperation with Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has offered to leverage his unique standing in Tehran to mediate between Iran and the US.

Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that Russia has agreed to assist Washington in communicating with Iran on various issues, including its support for regional groups hostile to the US.

The report has not been confirmed by Russian officials.

Iran has accelerated its nuclear program since 2022, enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels while restricting access to international inspectors.

President Trump has said that his administration will not allow Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons but would seek a deal to that end before turning to other options.

Iran asserts that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes, a position doubted by the UN nuclear watchdog, which says no non-nuclear armed country has ever enriched uranium to the purity that Tehran has.

Russia on Tuesday defended Iran’s actions in recent years, arguing that Tehran’s steps were a response to the US withdrawal from the JCPOA, a decision made in 2018 during the first Trump administration.