ISTANBUL

Russia agreed to facilitate communication between the Trump administration and Iran, focusing on Tehran’s nuclear program and its support for anti-US groups in the region, according to Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the situation.

“Russia believes that the United States and Iran should resolve all problems through negotiations” and affirmed that Moscow is “ready to do everything in its power to achieve this,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to Bloomberg's questions.

In a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in February, US President Donald Trump conveyed his interest in the matter. Days later, senior officials from his administration held discussions with their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia, according to sources in Moscow who requested anonymity due to the issue’s sensitivity.

When asked whether Russia had offered to mediate between Tehran and Washington, a spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry stated only that it was “natural” for countries to offer assistance.

During a televised news conference in Tehran on Monday, ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said many parties might show "good will" and a "readiness to help" with important issues.

Since taking office six weeks ago, Trump has sought to rebuild ties with Putin, which were severed after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Trump and Putin discussed ending that war in a Feb. 12 call, with both sides signaling openness to broader cooperation, including Arctic trade routes.

Senior officials from Washington and Moscow, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, discussed Washington’s request for Moscow’s help with Iran on Feb. 18 in Riyadh, said sources. Lavrov later briefed his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Tehran.

Since returning to office, Trump has sent mixed signals on Iran, vowing to reinstate “maximum pressure” while also calling to “immediately” pursue a “verified nuclear peace agreement with Iran.”

Last month, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Trump is untrustworthy due to his withdrawal from the Obama-era nuclear deal and that Iran would not be forced into negotiations.

Under US sanctions, Russia and Iran have deepened trade, energy and security ties, with Russia widely using Iranian drones in Ukraine.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, who backs the nuclear deal, pledged to follow Khamenei’s stance against US talks as long as sanctions remain.

On Monday, the UN’s nuclear watchdog urged the US and Iran to begin talks following last week’s warning that Tehran’s near-bomb-grade fissile stockpile had risen over 50% since Trump’s election. Iranian officials face pressure to ease economic hardships worsened by US sanctions under Trump and Biden.

Meanwhile, Iran remains in conflict with Israel, despite heavy losses to its proxies.