MOSCOW/TEHRAN, July 14 — Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly urged Iranian leaders to accept a U.S.-proposed nuclear agreement that would prohibit uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, signaling a dramatic shift in Moscow’s stance on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
According to sources cited by Axios and confirmed by multiple European and Israeli officials, Putin conveyed his support for a “zero enrichment” framework during recent communications with both U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian officials. The proposal aims to revive stalled nuclear negotiations following the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, which left key Iranian nuclear sites damaged.
“Putin would support zero enrichment,” one European official told Axios. “He encouraged the Iranians to work towards that in order to make negotiations with the Americans more favorable.”
The Kremlin has long been Iran’s diplomatic ally on nuclear issues, publicly defending its right to enrich uranium. However, in the wake of escalating regional tensions, Moscow appears to be recalibrating its position. Russian officials have reportedly offered to remove Iran’s highly enriched uranium and supply it with low-enriched material for civilian use, including 3.67% uranium for power generation and 20% for medical isotopes and research reactors.
Iranian state media, however, swiftly denied the reports. Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, quoted an “informed source” saying no such message from Putin had been received, and dismissed the Axios report as “Zionist media propaganda”.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated Tehran’s commitment to its enrichment rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, stating, “We will not have any agreement in which enrichment is not included.” He added that Iran remains open to resuming talks, but only under terms that respect its sovereignty and nuclear capabilities.
The proposed deal has sparked debate across diplomatic circles. While the U.S. and Israel view zero enrichment as essential to preventing weaponization, Iran insists on retaining enrichment for peaceful purposes. The friction underscores the complexity of reviving a nuclear accord amid shifting alliances and post-conflict recalibrations.
As negotiations remain in flux, observers are watching whether Putin’s intervention could catalyze a breakthrough—or deepen the impasse.
Putin Presses Iran to Accept US-Backed Nuclear Deal with Zero Enrichment Clause
