Trump reportedly conveyed his interest in Russian mediation directly to President Vladimir Putin during a phone call in February. Days later, senior officials from both governments discussed the matter in Saudi Arabia, according to individuals in Moscow who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said th Bloomberg report.
The White House has yet to comment on the discussions, while neither Russia nor Iran have publicly confirmed or denied the request. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that “Russia believes that the United States and Iran should resolve all problems through negotiations” and that Moscow “is ready to do everything in its power to achieve this.”
Iran’s foreign ministry, when asked whether Russia had offered to mediate, did not directly confirm the initiative but suggested that such involvement was natural. “Given the significance of these matters, it’s possible that many parties will show goodwill and readiness to help with various problems,” ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said at a televised press conference in Tehran.
US-Russia cooperation in diplomacy
Since assuming office about six weeks ago, Trump has sought to rebuild ties with Putin, which were severed after Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As part of his diplomatic outreach, Trump has expressed a willingness to negotiate directly with Putin to end the conflict, including during a phone call on February 12. Both nations have also signaled interest in collaborating on other geopolitical issues, including trade routes and Arctic resources.
Senior US and Russian officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, met in Riyadh on February 18 to discuss Washington’s interest in Moscow’s involvement in Iran-related matters, sources familiar with the talks said, as per the report. Lavrov later relayed details of that meeting to his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, during a visit to Tehran, Araghchi confirmed in a press conference.
Trump’s shifting stance on Iran
Trump’s policy toward Iran has been marked by contradictions. Since his return to the White House, he has signaled a return to the “maximum pressure” campaign of his first term, reinstating sanctions and targeting Iran’s security forces. However, he has also voiced interest in swiftly negotiating a “verified nuclear peace agreement with Iran.”
Russia and Iran, both heavily sanctioned by the US, have strengthened their ties in trade, energy, and military cooperation. Moscow has relied on Iranian drones in its war against Ukraine, while Tehran continues to seek economic relief amid ongoing Western sanctions.
Despite Trump’s outreach, Iran’s response remains uncertain. Hardliners within the Islamic Republic, including influential figures in the Revolutionary Guard and the judiciary, have long resisted engagement with Washington. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently reiterated his distrust of Trump, citing his withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, and stated that Iran would not be coerced into new negotiations.
