Russia has stepped in diplomatically to ease escalating tensions between the United States and Iran following the collapse of recent peace talks in Islamabad. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, urging both sides to pursue a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis. The Kremlin has also indicated its willingness to act as a mediator in efforts to de-escalate the situation.
According to reports in US media, Iran is believed to have made a preliminary decision regarding its nuclear programme, reportedly agreeing in principle to suspend its stockpile of enriched uranium for a period of five years. The development comes after failed negotiations in Islamabad, where US Vice President JD Vance had pushed for a 20-year freeze, a proposal that Iran rejected.
Under a Russian-backed proposal, Iran’s enriched uranium would be transferred to Russia for secure storage and processing. Moscow would then convert the material into nuclear fuel suitable only for civilian energy generation, aimed at preventing any possibility of weaponisation. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reportedly discussed the framework with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance has stated that the responsibility now lies with Iran to move forward on a potential agreement, reiterating that Washington is prepared for a deal if Tehran agrees to fully remove its enriched uranium stockpile. Analysts suggest that a Russian-mediated transfer arrangement could significantly reduce tensions and open the door for broader diplomatic progress in West Asia.
However, Iran has resisted the proposal, asserting that its nuclear programme is a matter of national sovereignty. Tehran maintains that it has the right to enrich uranium domestically and opposes the transfer of its stockpile abroad. Despite this stance, international observers have urged flexibility from Iran, warning that continued deadlock could further escalate regional instability.