Russia says Iran nuclear issue on agenda in upcoming US talks

Iran’s nuclear program will be a key topic in the next round of US-Russia bilateral talks, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Wednesday.

The talks are set to take place “very soon” in Moscow. The negotiations follow earlier rounds in Turkey and are aimed at addressing deepening tensions and restoring diplomatic channels between Washington and Moscow.

Ryabkov said Russia is prepared to offer practical help to both sides, including the removal of enriched nuclear material from Iran for conversion into reactor fuel.

“We are ready to provide assistance to both Washington and Tehran, not only politically, not only in the form of ideas that could be of use in the negotiation process, but also practically: for example, through the export of excess nuclear material produced by Iran and its subsequent adaptation to the production of fuel for reactors,” he told Russian media.

The fate of Iran’s enrichment program remains the core sticking point: President Trump insists Tehran must not acquire nuclear weapons, while Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has ruled out abandoning enrichment.

The Kremlin said last week that President Vladimir Putin had informed Trump by phone of Russia’s readiness to use its ties with Iran to help bridge differences.

Russia’s ambassador to Washington, Alexander Darchiev, confirmed that the third round of talks will be held in Russia and will include discussions on wider Middle East issues, including Iran’s nuclear trajectory.