Russia has agreed to help President Donald Trumpwork with Iran over its nuclear program, Bloombergreports.
Citing people familiar with the situation, Bloomberg stated Trump expressed an interest to work with Iran on both nuclear matters and Tehran's support for anti-U.S. proxies in the Middle East during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putinlast month.
Trump administration officials also discussed communicating with Iran in a meeting with their Russian counterparts at a summit in Saudi Arabia last month, the report said.
There was no response to the report from the White House. Newsweekhas contacted the State Department for comment.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Bloomberg that the U.S. and Iran should negotiate and that Moscow "is ready to do everything in its power to achieve this."
Iranian officials told The Telegraphthat Tehran was considering the request from Putin.
Why It Matters
In recent months, things have changed drastically for Iran following Trump's return to the White House. While Iran's 85-year-old supreme leader in August opened the door to negotiations with the West, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei slammed it shut again in February.
Trump, while suggesting he was willing to negotiate with Tehran, also has embarked on a renewed "maximum pressure" campaign of sanctions.
Pezeshkian himself on Sunday seemingly followed suit with Khamenei's new edict.
"My belief was that talks are better but the supreme leader has said we do not negotiate with the U.S and we will go forward in the direction of the statements of our top leader," Pezeshkian said.
What to Know
Iran has ramped up its production of near-weapons-grade uranium, significantly increasing tensions with Washington following Trump's return to the White House, according to a report by the United Nations' nuclear watchdog obtained by The Associated Press.
The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) revealed in its latest quarterly assessment that as of February 8, Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% has surged to 274.8 kilograms (605.8 pounds)—a sharp increase of 92.5 kilograms (203.9 pounds) since the agency's last report in November. This level of enrichment is just a technical step away from reaching the 90% purity required for nuclear weapons.
A previous IAEA report in November 2024 estimated Iran's stockpile at 182.3 kilograms (401.9 pounds), while last August it stood at 164.7 kilograms (363.1 pounds), underscoring Tehran's accelerating nuclear advancements.
What People Are Saying
Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman:"Russia believes that the United States and Iran should resolve all problems through negotiations."
Esmaeil Baghaei, a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry, said at a press conference: "Given the significance of these matters, it's possible that many parties will show good will and readiness to help with various problems.
"From this perspective, it's natural that countries will present an offer of help if it's needed."
Iranian official told The Telegraph: "Officials from the Kremlin contacted the supreme national security council and said Putin wants to mediate and he's ready to facilitate direct talks between Iran and America."
What Happens Next
In a bold bid to reshape global diplomacy, Trump has launched an ambitious series of peace initiatives, moving swiftly to address some of the world's most pressing conflicts within his first 100 days in office.
The administration has deployed its diplomatic muscle, attempting to tackle multiple crises in rapid succession—first in Gaza, then in Ukraine, and now reportedly shifting focus to Iran. The sweeping efforts signal Trump's intent to cement his legacy as a dealmaker on the world stage, even as geopolitical tensions remain high.
Trump expressed an interest to work with Iran on both nuclear matters and Tehran's support for anti-U.S. proxies in the Middle East during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin last month. Trump administration officials also discussed communicating with Iran in a meeting with their Russian counterparts at a summit in Saudi Arabia last month (Read more at Newsweek)