Iran is seeking Russia's support for a potential agreement with the United States regarding its nuclear program. This comes ahead of a second round of talks in Rome. The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, informed his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, about the initial discussions held in Oman.
Araghchi praised Russia's role in the 2015 nuclear deal, which led to the lifting of sanctions in exchange for Iran limiting its nuclear activities. "We are confident and expect Russia to continue its supporting role in a new agreement," Araghchi stated during a joint press conference with Lavrov in Moscow.
Lavrov affirmed Russia's readiness to mediate and assist in the nuclear talks. "We are ready to help, to mediate and to play any role that is useful from the Iranian point of view and acceptable to the United States," Lavrov said. He also noted that the only viable option for an agreement is one focused exclusively on nuclear issues.
Araghchi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighting the strong political dialogue between Moscow and Tehran. He conveyed a message from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Putin. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope for fruitful discussions with Iran, emphasizing the preference for a peaceful and lasting solution.
Rubio urged British, French, and German officials to maintain sanctions against Iran. He suggested that the IAEA would report Iran's non-compliance and its proximity to developing a weapon. The 2015 nuclear deal collapsed after the U.S. withdrawal in 2018, leading Iran to exceed restrictions on its nuclear activities.