Donald Trump asked Putin to mediate nuclear negotiations with Iran

[JeremyVickers]

According to Bloomberg U.S President Donald Trump has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to mediate nuclear negotiations with Iran, this development marks a significant shift in Trump approach to dealing with Iran as he seeks to establish communication channels through Russian mediation.

The U.S. and Iran have had strained relations for decades, particularly over Iran's nuclear program, Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action JCPOA also known as the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and reinstated sanctions on Iran, since his return to office, Trump has signaled a mixed approach towards Iran vowing to maintain maximum pressure while also expressing interest in negotiating a new nuclear agreement.

Trump reportedly conveyed his interest in Russian mediation directly to Putin during a phone call in February 2025. Following this conversation, senior officials from both governments discussed the matter in Saudi Arabia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia believes the America and Iran should resolve their issues through negotiations and that Moscow is ready to facilitate this process.

Potential for Russian mediation has raised concerns among some observers, particularly in Israel which has sought U.S support for a credible military threat against Iran, Russia's expanded military ties with Iran, including visits to Iranian missile production sites have heightened these concerns.

Citing past experiences and current sanctions Iranian officials have voiced pessimism regarding direct discussions with the United States: yet, they have admitted that given the importance of these problems international mediation could be helpful.

The willingness of Iran to participate in negotiations and the United States capacity to make concessions that allay Iranian concerns are two of the many variables that will determine whether Russian mediation is successful, as the situation develops it will be critical to track how these developments affect regional dynamics and international security.