TEHRAN, Iran — On Friday, Iran sought assistance from Russia as it prepares for a potential agreement with Washington regarding its swiftly progressing nuclear program. This comes ahead of another round of discussions set to take place this weekend in Rome.
The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, updated his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, about the initial phase of talks conducted in Oman the previous week. Araghchi commended Russia’s contribution to the 2015 nuclear deal, which saw sanctions lifted in exchange for Tehran limiting its nuclear undertakings.
During a conference in Moscow with Lavrov, Araghchi expressed optimism, hoping that Russia will maintain its supportive stance in crafting any new agreements. The 2015 nuclear accord unraveled following the abrupt withdrawal by then-U.S. President Donald Trump. Subsequently, Iran has lifted all constraints on its nuclear program, enriching uranium to 60% purity levels, tantalizingly close to the 90% necessary for weaponry.
Lavrov affirmed that Russia is ready to play an intermediary role and facilitate the nuclear negotiations. He stated, “We are prepared to help, mediate, and assume any role that Iran views as productive and that will be approved by the United States.” Emphasizing that, “the sole provision for an agreement is one focused entirely on nuclear topics.”
Lavrov remarked on Araghchi’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. The talks highlighted the “exceptional dynamics” within the political dialogue between Moscow and Tehran. While specifics weren’t disclosed, it was noted that Putin was “very pleased” with the talks. Araghchi conveyed a message from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, though details were not shared.
Meanwhile, in Paris, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio conveyed optimism that discussions with Iran might yield positive outcomes, commenting, “We would all prefer a peaceful resolution and a lasting one.” Rubio engaged with officials from Britain, France, and Germany, urging them to persist with imposing sanctions against Iran rather than letting them expire.
Expounding further, Rubio emphasized that in light of recent public statements, a forthcoming report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is anticipated to reveal Iran’s non-compliance and its proximity to achieving a nuclear weapon capability. He asserted that Europeans will need to decide whether to reinstate these sanctions, emphasizing, “If Iran is out of compliance, they have to reimpose the sanctions.”