🇷🇺🇮🇷 In a surprising diplomatic turn, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly urged Iran to accept a “zero enrichment” nuclear deal, which would halt all uranium enrichment activities. According to Axios, this marks a major shift in Moscow’s stance, as Russia has long backed Iran’s nuclear energy ambitions—especially since Tehran became a key drone supplier to Russia during the Ukraine war.
Behind closed doors, Putin is now pressuring Iranian leaders to de-escalate their nuclear program and strike a deal with the United States, possibly to ease tensions in the Middle East and unlock broader strategic benefits for Moscow. The message is clear: drop the uranium, make the deal, and move forward.
However, Iranian officials are said to be increasingly frustrated. During the recent 12-day war between Israel and Iran, Tehran felt Moscow remained conspicuously silent, failing to deliver the political and military backing it expected from its supposed ally. That diplomatic cold shoulder is now fueling tensions between the two nations, especially as Iran reevaluates whether its support for Russia in Ukraine—primarily through drone shipments—was a one-sided deal.
This development signals a potential realignment of nuclear diplomacy, with Moscow now indirectly aiding U.S. efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions while juggling its own complex web of regional alliances.
