Why Does Russia Want to Mediate Between Tehran and Washington?

Various media outlets around the world have recently reported on Russia's intention to mediate between Iran and the United States. It is said that Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has asked Moscow to assist in establishing communication with Tehran to control its nuclear program and regional activities. Negotiations between Russian and Iranian diplomats are ongoing, and the Kremlin insists that Washington and Tehran resolve their differences through dialogue. Amid contradictory messages from officials of the Islamic Republic regarding the resumption of nuclear negotiations, Iranian media view Russia's initiatives with skepticism, believing that Moscow is only seeking to secure its own interests. Ally or victim of behind-the-scenes trade? Following reports that Saudi Arabia might mediate between Iran and the US, Russia has also expressed readiness to mediate between Tehran and Washington. However, while experts and Iranian media have largely welcomed the potential mediation by Riyadh, Russia's initiative has faced skepticism. Critics argue that despite the 'strategic alliance' that has become the slogan of Russian and Iranian officials, Moscow has no qualms about trading around Iran to defend its own interests. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's former foreign minister and chief negotiator with the 1+5 group, accused Moscow of obstructing the path to the JCPOA despite its apparent support for the nuclear agreement. With the resumption of negotiations between Russia and the US last month, the skepticism that Moscow may sacrifice Tehran to improve relations with Washington has been revived, and longstanding distrust of Russia's approach in Iran has taken root. Hamid Reza Azizi, an international affairs expert, told Radio Farda that Russia has lost its credibility on the global stage since the onset of the war against Ukraine, but it has now found an opportunity to emerge as a diplomatic power and even 'influence decision-making in Iran.' Nematollah Izadi, a former Iranian ambassador to Oman, believes that Russia cannot be a neutral and honest mediator, and that Saudi Arabia is better suited for this role, as he argues that Tehran-Washington relations have little impact on Tehran-Riyadh relations, but the situation is different with Moscow. Many media outlets share this view. The newspaper 'Sazandegi' emphasized that any agreement between Russia and the US would be detrimental to Iran, stating, 'Russia has always prioritized its own interests.' Even the newspaper Kayhan stressed that 'Iran does not need a mediator.' Some experts have pointed out that European countries are concerned about the increasing role of Russia in the Iranian nuclear file and decisions that may be made without European agreement. Eric Brewer, a nuclear security expert, wrote on X that 'there is a possibility that the US, alongside Russia, will vote against the return of sanctions against Iran in the Security Council.' Mediation regarding Iran 'aligns with Kremlin interests.' Meanwhile, the Russian newspaper 'Novaya Gazeta-Europe' in a report titled 'Eagle in the Dove's Clothing' examines Russia's possible motivations for mediating between Iran and the US, believing that 'progress in upcoming negotiations is in the Kremlin's interest and Tehran's unconstructive approach causes dissatisfaction in Moscow.' Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have repeatedly claimed that Russia has 'never been the initiator of war' and that the 'special military operation' against Ukraine (i.e., the extensive invasion of the Russian army that began three years ago against Ukraine) is conducted 'to end the war.' According to Novaya Gazeta-Europe, over the past three years, such statements have been clearly seen as empty and a distortion of reality until American officials recently echoed the same Kremlin messages; according to Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin 'wants peace.' From the perspective of Novaya Gazeta-Europe analysts, the US is interested in using this Kremlin 'peace-seeking' not only to compel Ukraine to accept conditions for ending the war but also to encourage Iran towards constructive negotiations. Regardless of the outcomes of these efforts, Russia seeks to use the White House's proposal for mediation between the US and Iran to normalize bilateral relations with Washington and strengthen its diplomatic position among non-Western countries. At the same time, experts do not have high hopes for the success of these efforts. Marianna Blenkaya, a Middle East expert, told Novaya Gazeta-Europe, 'The 180-degree shift of the US regarding Ukraine has added to Iran's skepticism, which has always regarded the US as an unreliable party.' Rustam Sulimanov, another Middle East expert, states, 'Let us not forget that the recent closeness between Moscow and Tehran is primarily a result of sanctions against Russia and Iran's military support for the Russian army in the war against Ukraine, and there is no strong bond other than anti-Western sentiment in the relations between the two countries.' According to this analyst, 'Now that Washington has extended a hand of friendship towards Moscow, Moscow's turning its back on Tehran is simply because the Kremlin also does not trust the US to adhere to its commitments.' Sergey Danilov, an expert on Iran, states, 'Moscow is concerned about a possible conflict between Israel and Iran, as this scenario could plunge the entire region into chaos.' However, according to this analyst, the reason for the unresolved issues surrounding Iran is not the lack of a mediator, but rather the conflicting interests of the parties and their unpreparedness for compromise. This analyst believes that 'Donald Trump seeks a diplomatic victory, and the Kremlin is riding this wave to get closer to its own goals, and this issue has nothing to do with resolving issues surrounding Iran.' How Iran's nuclear program has become part of Russia-US negotiations. The Kremlin has confirmed that issues surrounding Iran are among the topics of Russia-US negotiations, and Russia 'will do its utmost to assist in peacefully resolving these issues despite the complexities surrounding Iran.' Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Russian President, announced to reporters, 'Vladimir Putin has always emphasized the necessity of resolving Iran's nuclear issue peacefully, and Russia, as Iran's ally and partner, is ready to assist in this process.' He also rejected consultations with Tehran 'before or after Iran's response to Donald Trump's letter' and emphasized that 'Iran independently determines its policies.' Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, has rejected the proposal for negotiations with the US, and Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, has stated that Tehran will not negotiate 'under pressure.' At the same time, Iran's Foreign Ministry announced that Tehran is engaging in discussions with China and Russia, and separately with three European countries, in order to 'build trust and transparency' regarding its nuclear program. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, suggested in an interview with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that Iran might agree to limit its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of Western sanctions. In response to a question about whether Moscow would use its influence over Tehran on the nuclear issue, she stated, 'We are ready for the closest cooperation with Iran and other parties with the aim of reducing tensions and finding durable solutions that lead to an effective and sustainable agreement.' Recently, Yuri Ushakov, an assistant to the Russian President who attended high-level negotiations between Russian and American officials in Riyadh three weeks ago, confirmed that Iran's nuclear program was addressed during these negotiations, and the parties agreed to hold a separate meeting to discuss further details. Russian diplomats say that such a meeting has not yet taken place, but in the meantime, Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, visited Tehran and met with senior Iranian officials, and during the meeting, Sergey Ryabkov, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, discussed 'international efforts to resolve Iran's nuclear program' with Kazem Jalali, the Iranian ambassador in Moscow. Reports indicate that Steve Vitkoff, the US Special Representative for Middle Eastern Affairs, will travel to Moscow again this week to meet with Vladimir Putin. He is expected to inform senior Russian officials 'of the results of US and Ukraine consultations.' In recent years, following the US withdrawal from the JCPOA during Donald Trump's first term, this action has always been criticized by Russia. Russian diplomats played an active role in the 1+4 negotiations with Iran before the onset of the war against Ukraine, but after the war began and harsh sanctions were imposed on Russia, these negotiations effectively stalled due to new demands from Moscow. During this time, relations between Russia and Iran have transformed unprecedentedly. After Donald Trump entered the White House, his administration has been trying to improve relations with Russia while reviving the maximum pressure approach against Iran.