Russia and Iran discuss nuclear program ahead of European talks

Monday 25 August 2025 - 15:25

By: Sahili Aya

Russia and Iran discuss nuclear program ahead of European talks

August 25, 2025 — Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian held talks on Monday regarding Iran’s nuclear program, ahead of planned negotiations with European powers in Geneva. According to the Kremlin, the leaders discussed “the situation surrounding Iran’s nuclear activities.”

The Iranian presidency stated that Pezeshkian thanked Putin for supporting Tehran’s right to uranium enrichment and reaffirmed that Iran does not seek, and will never seek, to produce nuclear weapons.

These discussions come as Iran is scheduled to meet with France, the United Kingdom, and Germany on Tuesday to resume talks on its nuclear program. These countries, signatories to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), have warned that they may reinstate United Nations sanctions if a negotiated solution is not reached by the end of August.

Western nations and Israel suspect Iran of attempting to develop a nuclear bomb, allegations Tehran denies, emphasizing its right to pursue nuclear energy for civil purposes. Russia, which has strengthened ties with Iran since the start of its offensive in Ukraine in 2022, has publicly defended Iran’s civil nuclear rights.

Iran often coordinates its position with Russia and China before key nuclear discussions with the West. Germany, the UK, and France, along with the US, Russia, and China, were signatories of the historic 2015 nuclear agreement, which limited Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. The agreement effectively collapsed after the US withdrew unilaterally in 2018 under President Donald Trump, prompting Iran to gradually suspend parts of its commitments, including uranium enrichment limits.