Russia is emerging as a central player in discussions regarding the future of Iran’s nuclear program, with discussions surrounding the possibility of transferring Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium to Russian territory.
This revelation comes amid heightened tensions following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran and the threat of military action unless a new deal is swiftly negotiated.
In recent developments, indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran held in Rome have reportedly made significant strides, as noted by U.S. officials.
These talks, mediated by Oman, lasted for four hours and paved the way for further technical discussions in Geneva this week, with high-level discussions set to continue next weekend in Oman.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy involved in the Rome talks, aims to finalize an agreement within two months.
However, resistance is anticipated from Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi due to the prevailing distrust and complex technicalities inherent in the discussions.
Two critical issues dominate the negotiations: the fate of Iran’s stockpiled highly enriched uranium and the guarantees Iran seeks to prevent the U.S. from breaching any agreement regarding the lifting of economic sanctions in exchange for compliance with the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) oversight of its nuclear program.
Iran is adamant about retaining its uranium stockpiles within its borders, while the U.S. insists on either the destruction of those stockpiles or their transfer to a third nation, with Russia being a potential candidate.
In the lead-up to the Rome talks, Iran received mixed signals regarding U.S. intentions concerning the complete dismantling of its nuclear program.
Witkoff’s earlier comments on social media seemed to suggest such an intent, causing disarray in both Iran and the U.S.
However, during the Rome talks, he appeared to clarify that the U.S. objectives had not expanded beyond prior agreements, a crucial assurance for maintaining momentum in negotiations.
Mohamed Amersi, a member of the Wilson Center’s advisory board, indicated that securing an understanding on the U.S.’s objectives was pivotal for the continuation of talks.
On the matter of guarantees, Iran is clear that a reliable agreement ought to take the form of a treaty endorsed by the U.S. Congress.
Araghchi was informed that securing such congressional approval for a treaty might be improbable given the strong pro-Israeli sentiment in Congress.
Alternatively, the U.S. could commit to compensating Iran for any losses incurred should Washington withdraw from the agreement.
Although Iran has proposed a financial penalty system previously, enforcing such measures without a treaty remains a complex challenge.
Another potential arrangement could involve empowering Russia to return Iran’s transferred uranium stockpiles should the U.S. violate the terms of the deal, ensuring that Iran would not face penalties for non-compliance.
This scenario would grant Russia a pivotal role in shaping the future relationship between the U.S. and Iran, while potentially sidelining traditional European allies such as Germany, France, and the UK, who were guarantors of the original 2015 agreement.
Both Iran and the U.S. seem to prefer limiting future involvement from the UN in overseeing these negotiations.
Rome’s designation as the site for these discussions garnered significance, particularly if negotiations had faltered, due to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s favorable relationship with Trump, positioning her to possibly mediate a rescue effort.
Although there were talks of a meeting between Araghchi and U.S. Vice President JD Vance during the Rome talks, it was ultimately deemed premature.
The pressure is mounting on Witkoff and Trump to deliver concrete outcomes from ongoing discussions concerning Iran, the Hamas-Israel situation, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
One source remarked on Iran’s calculated approach in negotiations, highlighting that they are rational actors likely to pursue a favorable deal.
In a show of support prior to the discussions, the Saudi defense minister visited Tehran to engage with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, conveying a message of solidarity against any potential U.S.-Israeli action targeting Iran’s nuclear sites.
Oman’s foreign ministry articulated that the objective of the ongoing negotiations is to establish a “fair, sustainable and binding agreement” that assures Iran’s complete freedom from nuclear weapons and sanctions while preserving its right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful applications.
image source from：https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/20/moscow-may-gain-key-role-in-iran-nuclear-deal-as-us-talks-progress
