Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday held a surprise meeting with Ali Larijani, senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader on nuclear matters, to deliberate on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and the broader situation in the Middle East.
The unannounced discussions took place at the Kremlin and come at a time of heightened geopolitical tension following the United States’ involvement in Israel’s extensive bombing operations on Iran in June. Despite its close ties with Tehran’s clerical establishment, Moscow has refrained from openly aligning itself with Iran against Washington and Tel Aviv.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the meeting, stating that Larijani “conveyed assessments of the escalating situation in the Middle East and around the Iranian nuclear programme.”
Peskov further noted that Putin reiterated Russia’s “well-known positions on how to stabilize the situation in the region and on the political settlement of the Iranian nuclear programme.”
In a related development, a German diplomatic source disclosed to AFP that Britain, France, and Germany—collectively known as the E3—are preparing to initiate new diplomatic talks with Iran over its nuclear activities in the coming days.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency supported this report, quoting an unnamed insider who confirmed Tehran’s willingness to engage in discussions with the European trio.
Meanwhile, Moscow last week criticized a report by U.S. media outlet Axios, which alleged that President Putin had urged Tehran to accept a deal with Washington that would restrict Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities. Russia dismissed the claims as unsubstantiated, citing anonymous sources used in the article.
For its part, Iran has persistently denied any intent to develop nuclear weapons. The Islamic republic maintains that its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes and insists on its “legitimate rights” under international agreements to develop atomic energy for civilian use.
What You Should Know
Ali Larijani’s sudden visit to Moscow underscores the urgency surrounding Iran’s nuclear program and regional instability.
While Russia remains diplomatically close to Iran, it is treading carefully to avoid direct confrontation with Western powers. Iran continues to insist its nuclear ambitions are peaceful, even as Western nations push for stricter oversight.
