Putin ready to facilitate Iran-US nuclear talks, Kremlin says
4 Min Read
The Kremlin says the Russian leader told his American counterpart he is ready to leverage Russia’s partnership with Iran to help nuclear talks, as key issues remain unresolved.
-
Russian President Vladimir Putin leads a cabinet meeting via video conference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, June 4, 2025 (Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to use Moscow’s close ties with Tehran to help advance stalled talks over Iran’s nuclear program, the Kremlin confirmed on Thursday.
The proposal was made during a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday.
Trump later told reporters that time was running out for Iran to make a decision and suggested that Putin could play a helpful role in resolving the impasse.
He added that Putin offered to participate in discussions, saying he “could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion,” though he claimed that Iran was “slowwalking”.
Russia’s leverage through partnership with Tehran
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Moscow’s strong relationship with Tehran could be a valuable asset in facilitating talks between Iran and the United States.
“We have close partner relations with Tehran,” Peskov said, “and, naturally, President Putin said that we are ready to use this level of partnership with Tehran in order to facilitate and contribute to the negotiations that are taking place to resolve the issue of the Iranian nuclear dossier.”
Asked whether Putin would formally join the talks, the Kremlin spokesperson revealed that dialogue between Moscow, Tehran, and Washington was ongoing through several channels.
“The president will be able to get involved when necessary,” he added.
Earlier on Thursday, Tehran’s ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, confirmed that Putin is expected to visit Tehran in the near future, marking a pivotal step in the deepening alliance between Iran and Russia.
Iran will not abandon uranium enrichment: Sayyed Khamenei
Meanwhile, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, reiterated Tehran’s commitment to its uranium enrichment program, dismissing a key US demand as unacceptable.
On Wednesday, Sayyed Khamenei said that abandoning enrichment was “100% against the country's interests,” directly opposing Washington’s push for a halt to enrichment activities as part of any new nuclear deal.
The Iranian leader did not suggest an end to ongoing talks. However, he criticized the US proposal, stating that it “contradicts our nation's belief in self-reliance and the principle of 'We Can'.”
New proposal for nuclear agreement
According to US officials, a new proposal for a nuclear agreement was relayed to Tehran on Saturday through Oman, which continues to play a key mediating role.
The offer followed five rounds of indirect talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff.
Contradicting US statements on uranium enrichment
On Monday, President Donald Trump declared that the United States would not allow Iran to enrich uranium under any future nuclear agreement, taking a public stance that directly contradicts a proposal reportedly presented to Tehran by his own envoy.
The hardline claim, made via Trump’s Truth Social account, highlights a growing discrepancy between the administration’s political messaging and its behind-the-scenes diplomacy.
In his post, Trump wrote, "The AUTOPEN should have stopped Iran a long time ago from 'enriching.' Under our potential Agreement — WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM!"
His comment reinforces long-standing demands made by key members of his team, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Witkoff, both of whom have publicly insisted on a zero-enrichment policy as the foundation of any nuclear accord. Rubio’s nuclear policy statements have consistently reflected this uncompromising view.
US deal proposal allows Iran to enrich Uranium to low level
However, two sources with direct knowledge of the Trump team's negotiations told Axios that Witkoff’s actual proposal to Iran, delivered on Saturday, includes provisions allowing limited low-grade uranium enrichment for a still-undefined period.
It also stops short of demanding the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Steve Witkoff's Iran proposal, if accurately reported, would amount to a significant softening of the administration’s publicly stated red lines.
Despite the contrast, the White House did not deny the reported terms of the proposal. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios that "out of respect for the ongoing deal, the Administration will not comment on details of the proposal to the media."
The revelation has already drawn criticism from Iran hawks in Washington and from officials within the Israeli regime, who view any tolerance for enrichment as a dangerous concession.
