Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov met with Iranian Ambassador Kazem Jalali on Thursday to discuss international efforts to address Iran’s nuclear programme, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Friday.
The meeting comes as Bloomberg reported that Russia has agreed to assist U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration in communicating with Iran on various issues, including Tehran’s nuclear activities and its support for regional anti-U.S. proxies. The Kremlin confirmed that future U.S.-Russia talks would include discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme, which had been briefly addressed in earlier negotiations.
President Trump recently reinstated his “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran, aiming to reduce its oil exports to zero to prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons. Iran has consistently denied any intention of pursuing nuclear arms.
Meanwhile, Russia has strengthened its ties with Iran, particularly since the onset of the Ukraine war. In January, the two nations signed a strategic cooperation treaty, further solidifying their partnership in areas such as defense, energy, and regional collaboration.
This development highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics surrounding Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the interplay between major global powers.