Moscow (TDI): Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian held a phone conversation on Monday focused on Tehran’s nuclear program, as European powers prepare to confront Iran over stalled commitments under the 2015 nuclear agreement.
The Kremlin confirmed that the discussion “touched on the situation around Iran’s nuclear program” but offered no further details.
According to the Iranian presidency, Pezeshkian thanked Putin for Moscow’s consistent backing of Iran’s right to enrich uranium, while reiterating that Tehran “is not, and will never be, seeking to build nuclear weapons.”
The call came a day before Iran is due to resume talks with Britain, France, and Germany in Geneva, alongside the European Union.
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Iranian state television reported that deputy foreign ministers will lead the negotiations, marking the second such meeting since Tehran’s 12-day war with Israel in mid-June, during which U.S. strikes targeted Iranian nuclear sites. The last round was held in Istanbul on July 25.
Britain, France, and Germany, the so-called E3, have warned they may invoke the “snapback mechanism” that would restore UN sanctions lifted under the 2015 accord, unless Iran reduces uranium enrichment and renews full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Read More: China, Russia Support Iran on Nuclear Program
For its part, Moscow has signaled opposition to the reimposition of international sanctions. Russian media reported that Moscow rejects any move toward a snapback, aligning with Tehran’s stance as both countries deepen political, military, and economic ties amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Iran has long sought to coordinate its nuclear diplomacy with both Russia and China ahead of sensitive negotiations with Western powers, positioning itself to counterbalance pressure from Washington and its European allies.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
