Putin urges Iran to give up uranium enrichment in new deal – report

Russian president reportedly tells President Trump and Iran that he supports a new nuclear deal, which will mandate zero enrichment by Iran.

By World Israel News Staff

Russia has signaled its support for a new nuclear deal between the U.S. and Iran, which would require Tehran to give up its uranium enrichment program, according to a report published by Axios on Saturday.

Following the 12-day war between Israel and Iran and the one-day American air campaign targeting three Iranian nuclear facilities, President Donald Trump has sought to capitalize on the damage to Iran’s nuclear program as well as use the momentum from the ceasefire brokered between Jerusalem and Tehran to secure an agreement with Iran ensuring the Islamic republic halts all uranium enrichment efforts.

While Iran has thus far rebuffed Trump’s overtures, Russian President Vladimir Putin is now using his influence over Tehran to pressure Iran’s leadership to abandon its enrichment program and agree to the deal now being offered by Trump, which would include extensive sanctions relief.

According to multiple sources cited in Saturday’s report, including three European officials and one Israeli official, Putin has been informed by Trump and Iranian leaders that he now backs a new nuclear deal, which would mandate “zero enrichment” by Iran.

Russia has also informed Israel of Putin’s position, two sources claimed.

“We know that this is what Putin told the Iranians,” the Israeli official told Axios.

Putin is reported to have informed Trump by phone last week and is said to have made a similar call to French President Emmanuel Macron.

While the Trump administration is expected to insist on zero uranium enrichment as a basic condition for any new nuclear deal, Iran has in past negotiations refused to yield what it has deemed its sovereign right to pursue a “peaceful” atomic program.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly told diplomats in Tehran recently that Iran would insist on retaining what he called the country’s right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes.

The United Nations’ nuclear energy watchdog, the IAEA, has reported, however, that Iran has accumulated a stockpile of nearly 1,000 pounds of enriched uranium at 60% purity, more than ten times the enrichment level needed for civilian nuclear energy.

Without the backing of one of its closest allies, however, Iran may be forced to reconsider Trump’s offer of sanctions relief in exchange for an end to Tehran’s enrichment program.

“Putin would support zero enrichment. He encouraged the Iranians to work towards that in order to make negotiations with the Americans more favorable. The Iranians said they won’t consider it,” one European official said.

American and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities caused serious damage to Iran’s enrichment capabilities, though questions remain regarding the fate of the bulk of the existing 60% pure stockpile.

While some estimates suggest the enriched uranium may be trapped in the three major nuclear sites targeted by American B-2 bombers last month, other reports point to the likely evacuation of at least some of the uranium stockpile.

Donald TrumpIraniran nuclear programRussiaVladimir Putin