Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly encouraged Iran to agree to a nuclear deal with the United States that includes a complete halt to uranium enrichment, according to a report by Axios citing three European and one Israeli official.
Despite Russia’s long-standing public support for Iran’s right to enrich uranium, sources suggest that Putin has taken a more hardline stance in private discussions following the recent 12-day war between Iran and Israel. Moscow has now urged Iranian leaders to consider a “zero enrichment” deal, according to officials familiar with the talks.
Communication with Trump and Macron
Putin has conveyed this position to both U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian officials, the report claims. Two sources said that Russia also informed the Israeli government of Putin’s views. “We know this is what Putin told the Iranians,” confirmed a senior Israeli official.
The Russian president reiterated this stance in separate phone calls last week with Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, according to the same sources.
While Israel and the U.S. have carried out strikes that inflicted significant damage on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, much of Iran’s enriched uranium remains intact. President Trump has made clear his desire to reach a new nuclear agreement with Tehran. Sources say that eliminating uranium enrichment on Iranian soil would be a central U.S. demand in any upcoming negotiations.
Iranian Resistance to Zero Enrichment
Iran, however, has consistently maintained that the ability to enrich uranium is a non-negotiable right in any potential deal.
Sources claim that Putin has pressed the Iranians several times in recent weeks to consider the “zero enrichment” option in order to create a more favorable environment for talks with Washington. “Putin would support zero enrichment. He encouraged the Iranians to move in that direction so negotiations with the Americans could be more fruitful. The Iranians said they would not consider it,” said a European official with direct knowledge of the discussions.
Putin’s position is particularly notable given the strong support Iran has offered Russia during its war in Ukraine, including the supply of hundreds of attack drones and surface-to-surface missiles.
Yet, during and after the recent 12-day conflict, Iranian officials were reportedly disappointed by Moscow’s limited support, which was largely restricted to public statements.
The Kremlin and the White House did not respond to requests for comment, and Iran’s UN mission declined to issue a statement.
Despite the diplomatic tension, Russia has made it clear—both publicly and privately—that it would be willing to remove Iran’s highly enriched uranium if a deal is reached. Moscow has indicated its readiness to supply Iran with uranium enriched to 3.67% for civilian nuclear power, and small quantities enriched to 20% for Tehran’s research reactor and for the production of medical isotopes, the sources said.
