On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin conducted an unannounced meeting with Ali Larijani, the chief adviser to Iran’s supreme leader regarding nuclear issues, at the Kremlin to deliberate on Tehran’s nuclear programme, as stated by the Kremlin.
Larijani provided insights into the “escalating situation in the Middle East and surrounding the Iranian nuclear programme,” according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. In response, Putin reaffirmed Russia’s “well-known positions on how to stabilize the situation in the region and on the political resolution of the Iranian nuclear programme,” Peskov further noted.
Russia has maintained robust relations with Iran’s leadership and has offered significant support in recent years; however, it has refrained from taking a strong stance in favor of Tehran since the United States joined Israel’s bombing campaign against Iran in June.
Putin reiterated Russia’s “well-known positions on how to stabilize the situation in the region and on the political resolution of the Iranian nuclear programme,” he added.
In a separate development, a German diplomatic source informed AFP on Sunday that Britain, France, and Germany are preparing to engage in new discussions with Iran regarding its nuclear programme in the upcoming days.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency also reported that Tehran has consented to engage in talks with the three European nations, citing an unnamed source.
Last week, Russia criticized a report by the US news outlet Axios, which referenced anonymous sources claiming that Putin had “encouraged” Iran to accept a deal with the United States that would prevent the Islamic Republic from enriching uranium.
Iran has consistently denied any intention to pursue a nuclear weapon while asserting its “legitimate rights” to the peaceful utilization of atomic energy.
