MOSCOW: Russia on Wednesday expressed its willingness to help mediate talks between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme, the Kremlin said.
“The Russian Federation remains ready to do everything within our capabilities to contribute to the settlement of the situation by political and diplomatic means,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Russia has already welcomed the Iran-US talks as it pushed for a diplomatic solution and warned that military confrontation would be catastrophic.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov did not confirm whether Moscow would act as a guarantor but stated that Russia is “counting” on a second round of negotiations between Iran and the United States.
On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Muscat, the highest-level Iranian-US nuclear engagement since the collapse of a 2015 nuclear deal also known as the JCPOA.
The talks came weeks after US President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calling for nuclear talks.
Italy to host next round of talks
The next round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States will be held on Saturday in Italy and not Oman, Iranian state media reported.
“The second round of Iran-US nuclear talks will be held next Saturday in Rome… and the Omani foreign ministry will be hosting the talks,” Iran’s state TV said.
European officials had initially stated that the talks would take place in Rome, while Iranian officials maintained that the location would be Oman.
A spokesman for the Italian foreign ministry on Wednesday also confirmed that the talks would be held in Rome.
However, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a post on X seemed not hammy with the changing of the location of the talks.
“In diplomacy, such a move, promoted by extremist elements lacking an understanding of logic or the art of reasonable negotiation, can jeopardise any beginning,” he said, adding that it can “be seen as a lack of seriousness and good faith.”
Iranian President hopes for nuclear deal
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed hope that an agreement can be reached with the United States.
“We would naturally welcome the conclusion of an agreement” with the US, Iran’s official IRNA news agency quoted Pezeshkian as saying during a cabinet meeting.
Uranium enrichment ‘non-negotiable’: Iran FM
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that Iran’s enrichment of uranium as part of its nuclear programme was “non-negotiable” after US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff called for a halt.
“Iran’s enrichment is a real, accepted matter. We are ready to build confidence in response to possible concerns, but the issue of enrichment is non-negotiable,” Araghchi told reporters after a cabinet meeting.
“We will find out the true opinions of the Americans during the negotiation session,” he said.
