TEHRAN – Tuesday’s Bloomberg report details how the Trump administration called for Iran to support Russia over its nuclear program and regional impact.
The US outlet claims that a US demand was made during a February call between Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, aiming to address Washington’s “concerns” over Iran’s nuclear advancement and support for regional allies opposed to US influence. Putin is said to have agreed to take on the job.
Outreach, which includes direct consultations between the US and Russian authorities, highlights Washington’s struggle to reconcile the “maximum pressure” campaign with a clear desire for diplomacy.
Since rejoining the White House, Trump has vibrated between threatening Iran with “elimination” and expressing his interest in a “nuclear peace agreement.”
This overlap reflects his first-term approach, in which the US unilaterally withdraws from the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) in 2018, reimposes sanctions that are crippling and assassinates Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in 2020.
Meanwhile, Iran has signed a 20-year strategic partnership in part to strengthen relations with Russia and counter Western economic coercion.
The Kremlin did not confirm a formal agreement, but spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia’s stance that “the US and Iran should resolve all issues through negotiations,” adding Moscow “will do everything to achieve this.”
The report lies in Trump’s efforts to reset ties with Russia despite the continued invasion of Ukraine, indicating the possibility of a new regime restructuring of Western Asia’s interests.
At a February 18 meeting in Riyadh, Secretary of State Marko Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reportedly discussed Iran-related cooperation, but details have not been made available.
According to Bloomberg, Lavrov later explained to Iranian officials in Tehran, with Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut reaffirming Iran’s refusal to “negotiate under obsessiveness” and cited Trump’s volatile policies as evidence of US credibility.
Ayatollah, the leader of the Islamic Revolution, repeated Ali Khamenei’s widespread distrust of Iran last month. “Why? Experience,” he declared.
President Masoud Pezeshkian reflects this attitude. “Iran cannot be bullied by obedience,” he advocated Iran’s “resistance economy” and partnership with Russia as a shield against US pressure.