MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the US-Iran nuclear talks with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Moscow on Tuesday, the Kremlin said.
Oman has been mediating between Iran and the United States as President Donald Trump seeks an agreement that would curb Iran’s nuclear programme, which Washington believes is aimed at developing a nuclear weapon.
“This topic was touched on… in the context of mediation efforts by Oman,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a briefing at the Kremlin.
“We discussed the progress of negotiations between Iranian and American representatives,” Interfax quoted Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov as saying.
“We will see what the result will be. We maintain close contact with our Iranian colleagues. Where we can, we help.”
Russia has welcomed the surprise talks between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear programme, which is being mediated by Oman.
“Russia is ready to do everything that depends on it to contribute to a fruitful and active conclusion of these talks,” Peskov said.
Trump pushed Iran to open talks on limiting its nuclear weapons development programme, after he pulled out of the landmark US-Iran nuclear deal during his first presidency.
The US President has threatened to bomb Iran unless a deal is reached; Iran denies seeking atomic weapons.
Russia signed a strategic partnership treaty with Iran in January and is also trying to improve relations with the Trump administration.
Moscow has a role in nuclear talks with Iran as a signatory to a previous nuclear deal that Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018.
Russia has said any US military action against Iran would be illegal.
In televised comments, Putin was shown telling the Sultan of Oman that Russian energy companies were interested in developing relations with Oman.
It was the second time in less than a week that Putin has met face-to-face with a Middle Eastern leader, following a visit by the Amir of Qatar on April 17.
Iran’s foreign minister visited last week.
