Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly urged Iran to accept a U.S. nuclear deal that would prohibit the Middle Eastern nation from enriching uranium, according to the Daily Mail.
This comes as a surprise given Russia's status as one of Iran's key allies. Putin's stance on the matter has been communicated to both U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian officials.
The American news outlet, Axios, has cited three European officials and one Israeli official privy to the discussions, stating that Moscow has endorsed this position. Putin has also reportedly shared his views with French President Emmanuel Macron.
One European official was quoted as saying, "Putin would support zero enrichment. He encouraged the Iranians to work towards that in order to make negotiations with the Americans more favorable. The Iranians said they won't consider it." An Israeli official also confirmed, "We know this is what Putin told the Iranians."
However, Iran's semi-official news agency, Tasnim, has refuted these claims, quoting an 'informed source' who denies that Putin has sent any such message to Iran.
The U.S. has been striving to negotiate a deal with Iran, following Trump's assertion that Iran 'cannot have a nuclear weapon.' This led to the U.S. launching strikes on three of Iran's nuclear facilities. However, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has voiced his opposition to the country losing its ability to enrich uranium, stating that it is '100 per cent' against Iran's best interests.
According to Axios, sources close to the negotiations have revealed that if a deal is reached, Russia would supply Iran with 3.67 per cent of its uranium for nuclear power, which it would then remove. It is also suggested that Russia would provide Iran with 'small quantities' of 20 per cent enriched uranium for their Tehran research reactor and the 'production of nuclear isotopes'.
The news of Putin's alleged stance comes on the heels of his pledge to support Iran and his condemnation of 'groundless' aggression against his ally, following the U.S. and Israel's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last month. Putin characterized these strikes as 'unjustified' and assured that Russia was 'making efforts to provide assistance to the Iranian people.'
Putin did not specifically mention the U.S. attacks, but spoke broadly of 'strikes' against Iran. The Kremlin had previously expressed its condemnation and regret over the U.S. strikes. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed his deep regret over the escalation of tensions in the region, shortly before Putin's meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in the Kremlin.
Araghchi expressed his gratitude to Putin for condemning the U.S. strikes on Iran, stating that Russia stood on 'the right side of history'. The situation escalated last month when the United States deployed a fleet of stealth bombers to attack nuclear facilities across Iran. Israel initiated the conflict with unilateral strikes against Iran, citing concerns that the regime was attempting to build a nuclear bomb, a claim that Iran has consistently denied.
This development underscores the complexity of the geopolitical landscape, with alliances and interests often shifting in response to evolving circumstances. The outcome of these negotiations will have far-reaching implications for the balance of power in the Middle East and the global nuclear landscape.
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