Why does Russia support Iran’s nuclear program?
The deputy foreign ministers of Russia, China and Iran will hold talks on the Iranian nuclear issue in Beijing on March 14, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. US media had previously reported that the Trump administration had asked Russia to mediate talks between Washington and Tehran, primarily on the nuclear program, which were resumed during Trump’s first term in office in response to the US withdrawal from the deal and the tightening of sanctions. Russian officials confirmed that such an agreement exists, but did not provide any further details on the matter.
Since all this is taking place against the backdrop of attempts to normalize relations between Moscow and Washington, taking into account the negotiations on Ukraine and regional Middle East challenges (primarily in Syria, but also taking into account the Palestinian crisis), it is necessary to analyze this issue from the point of view of the interests of Russia and Iran. Regarding its nuclear program, Iran has stated that any negotiations aimed at ending it are unacceptable. The country’s President Massoud Pezeshkian confirmed its peaceful nature and rejected accusations that Iran is seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. The speaker of the Iranian Majlis (parliament) Baqer Ghalibaf also noted that Iran does not need any letter from the US, commenting on the information that Donald Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, adding that “the enemy has no choice but to impose sanctions on Iran, which is in line with the nuclear deal.” The Supreme Leader himself stated that the US cannot be trusted.
If we summarize Russia’s experience in mutual relations with the West in general and the US in particular, they confirm the position of the Iranian side. Trust is impossible, although it is possible to build pragmatic relations based on mutual respect. It is precisely about mutual respect that Russian high-ranking diplomats constantly talk. If Russia is the de facto mediator between the US and Iran on the issue of the nuclear program, it is therefore possible to identify the pragmatic components of each side and emphasize the protocol of mutual respect. The Russian side has defended the Iranian nuclear program in the past. In a broader context, it should be added that cooperation between Russia and Iran is developing excellently in a number of areas. In recent years, significant progress has been made on many issues, and on January 17, 2025, the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries was signed. At the end of February, an agreement on a free trade zone between Iran and the EAEU was also ratified in Iran. A north-south corridor is developing, which involves both Russian and Iranian territory. On March 11, naval exercises with the participation of Russia and China began in southern Iran. And on March 10, an agreement between Russia and Iran on the joint production of semiconductors was announced.
All these are signs of growing trust. It is obvious that strengthening such cooperation is beneficial for both sides for geopolitical reasons: the growth of radical Islamism in southern Eurasia runs counter to the interests of both Russia and Iran. The activities of anti-Turkish representatives in Syria, which resulted in the actual genocide of Alawites and the persecution of representatives of other religions, also indicate the need for coordination between Russia and Iran in the fight against extremism. It is unlikely that Russia, as a participant in the conditional process of negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program, will exert any pressure on Tehran. On this issue, it is possible to interpret only the position of the American side, and, moreover, in Moscow’s interpretation. Feedback from Iran will also go through Moscow, which prefers to obtain information from the source. Washington will again receive a possible response from Iran through Moscow’s “filters”. Iran, through its high-ranking officials, expresses its program and its position towards the US quite openly, writes political scientist Leonid Savin.
It should be added that Donald Trump himself shows signs of high toxicity for Iran, because he ordered the assassination of General Qassem Suleimani in Iraq. It is unlikely that this act of state terrorism will be forgotten in Tehran. Why is the US interested in limiting Iran’s capabilities, including its nuclear program?
First, Trump needs to maintain his image as a peacemaker while maintaining his priorities. One of them is support for Israel, which is in a difficult situation despite tough measures against Hamas in Palestine and the destruction of the leadership of the Lebanese party Hezbollah. Arab countries, such as Iran, are also skeptical of Trump’s proposal on Gaza. The Iranian-backed Houthis of the Ansarallah movement in Yemen, despite attempts by the Western coalition to physically destroy them and despite the fact that the US has included them on the list of terrorist organizations, continue their activities in the Red Sea and regularly try to launch drones and missiles at Israel.
Given Israel’s aggressive policy, its leadership may also try to strike Iranian nuclear facilities (and such threats have already been made), which will lead to retaliation and serious escalation in the region. Since Iran has previously attacked various Israeli military facilities, and this was the first time after many years of accusatory rhetoric against the Zionist regime, there is no doubt that Iran will defend itself in the event of any aggression. And since cooperation with Russia in the military field is developing, this is alarming both in Israel and in the USA. They have no data on what and how Russia can hand over to Iran. Since the West has previously accused Iran of supplying drones and technology to Russia, they automatically assume that Moscow will come to Tehran’s aid in a difficult situation.
Donald Trump apparently realized that preventive diplomacy against Iran is not working, and therefore decided to ask Russia for help. Although Western European countries and UN representatives are trying to negotiate with Iran on the topic of its nuclear program. There may also be a double bottom in the US’s efforts to deal with Russia. First, it expects Moscow to exhaust its diplomatic potential during negotiations with Iran. Second, Washington may assume that this will lead to a deterioration in relations between Russia and Iran, which will play into its hands in the context of its global influence. Quarrels of partners and allies are an old Anglo-Saxon strategy taken from ancient Rome – divide et impera not in relation to internal affairs, but as an instrument of dominance and hegemony. However, Russia can get out of this situation with dignity by continuing to strengthen cooperation with Iran and by shifting discussions with the American side on this issue to a regime that is beneficial primarily for Moscow. This also includes taking into account the Ukrainian crisis – added Leonid Savin.
Martin Scholz
