Enriched Iran: Russia is ready to become an intermediary between Tehran and Washington
Russia is ready to mediate in the settlement of the conflict between the United States and Iran if the parties show interest, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko told Izvestia. Negotiations between Washington and Tehran have reached an impasse, including due to the unresolved issue surrounding Iran's nuclear program. Russia has previously offered to export enriched uranium from Iran to its territory, but so far this initiative has not received support. Amid a relative lull in Iran, the escalation in Yemen is gaining momentum. Egypt is planning to send troops to Saudi Arabia. Experts believe that a settlement is still far away.
Russia's possible mediation between the United States and Iran
The eight-month conflict between the United States and Iran has reached an impasse. Washington's initial plan to quickly overthrow the government in the country has failed. Passage through the Strait of Hormuz remains difficult, and diplomats have so far failed to reach a settlement. In these circumstances, Russia can assume the role of mediator. Moscow is ready for such a step, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko told Izvestia.
"If such interest is shown from all sides, then we are ready [to become intermediaries],— he said. — We offered our services at one time regarding how the Iranian nuclear program could be solved, but so far our proposals have not found support.
The main problem in the conflict between the United States and Iran remains the Iranian nuclear program. The United States and Israel insist on its complete curtailment, but Tehran categorically rejects these demands. Earlier, Russia offered to transport the entire stock of Iranian enriched uranium to its territory.
— This proposal is on the table right now. We initially proposed this — to repeat this positive experience, we offered to export enriched uranium from Iran to the territory of the Russian Federation. And I must say that everyone agreed initially — the Iranians agreed, the Americans agreed, and the Israelis agreed," said Vladimir Putin, speaking at the Valdai Discussion club on October 1. — But then the United States toughened its position — they said that it was necessary to take it out, but only to the United States. After that, Iran also toughened its stance.
Vladimir Putin discussed the Russian proposal with American leader Donald Trump during a telephone conversation on October 9. Later, on October 21, during talks with the special envoy of the head of the White House, Steve Witkoff, the Russian president stressed that the diplomatic possibilities for resolving the conflict over Iran had not yet been exhausted. This was announced by presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.
Currently, negotiations between the United States and Iran are conducted exclusively through intermediaries — Qatar and Pakistan. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi revealed the details of the ongoing discussions. Tehran has handed over to Washington an initiative known as the "seven-day plan." Iran undertakes to fully open navigation in the Strait of Hormuz on the 6th day of the agreement. In return, the United States should end the naval blockade of Iranian ports, lift restrictions on oil exports, and unfreeze assets. According to Araqchi, the American side agreed with the timetable, but demanded that several new items be included, which slowed down the process.
Due to its good relations with Iran and Israel, Russia occupies a unique position as a universal moderator in the Middle East, political analyst Alexander Kargin told Izvestia. Moreover, Moscow is currently developing a negotiating track with the United States. Kargin recalled that Pakistan, another potential mediator, has no diplomatic relations with Israel at all. Russia has no such problem.
Russian mediation would at least help to conclude a truce in order to move towards a complete resolution of the crisis, Kargin stressed. The analyst expects that in the end, the objective need for Moscow's participation will prevail, and the parties will involve Russia in the negotiations. In the meantime, the views of the parties to the conflict on the nuclear program are diametrically opposed, Kargin stated. Although the Russian proposal to export uranium would suit everyone perfectly, the exorbitant tension in the Middle East prevents the parties from making even minimal compromises.
Escalation between the Houthis and the Riyadh-led coalition
While there is a lull in the Iranian direction, there is a serious escalation in Yemen. The country has become a zone of fierce land battles and missile strikes. The main clashes are taking place in the west and south for control of the Red Sea coast and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The Houthis have already surrounded Yemen's third largest city, Taiz, blocking the humanitarian corridor from Aden. The city is running out of food and fuel, and hospitals are on the verge of closing. According to the UN, more than 120,000 people have fled this region alone.
Tehran and Ansar Allah call their relations allied within the framework of the "axis of resistance" against the United States and Israel, although the movement refuses to consider itself a proxy force of the republic.
On October 4, the official Government of Yemen, with the support of the Arab coalition, launched a military operation to regain control of the west coast and the capital, Sanaa. Pro-government forces have advanced to the outskirts of the port of Mokha, but the Houthis hold key frontiers and sea lanes. At the same time, the rebels are massively attacking airports, Saudi Aramco facilities and government quarters in Saudi Arabia, trying to lift the blockade. Since the beginning of October, King Khalid Airport has been hit about 20 times, which is why Riyadh canceled the Future Investment Initiative investment conference on October 26-29. Global banks refused to send top managers under fire, and the forum was postponed to 2027.
As Saudi Patriot air defense systems deplete stocks of interceptor missiles and miss some targets, Riyadh has requested urgent military assistance. The UK has already announced the emergency deployment of RAF Typhoon fighters, Atlas A400M transport aircraft and military advisers to the kingdom. British planes will patrol the sky and block the airspace from missiles. At the same time, London emphasizes that the mission is purely defensive in nature — the pilots will not attack the Houthi ground bases in Yemen itself.
In parallel, the coalition is discussing the involvement of Egypt in the fighting. The country's parliament is considering allowing the president to send military personnel to Saudi Arabia, Egyptian MP Mustafa Bakri said. He is close to the country's leadership and often voices important government decisions or insider information before official statements.
Saudi Arabia understands that the fight against the Houthis will be delayed, noted international political scientist Elena Suponina. Defeating Ansar Allah is almost impossible, but Riyadh needs successes at the front to persuade the rebels to engage in dialogue. Suponina recalled that Egypt did not sign the Mecca Agreements in early August between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, but Cairo was exploring this possibility. Egypt is committed to military cooperation, as it regularly receives large loans from the monarchies of the Persian Gulf.
Syria is also considering the possibility of entering into conflict with the Houthis, Suponina added. In early October, Axios reported, citing American sources, that Saudi Arabia was negotiating with the new Syrian authorities under the leadership of Ahmed al-Sharaa. According to American intelligence, Riyadh has requested from Damascus a contingent of 10 to 20 thousand troops to participate in the counteroffensive, but official Syria has not confirmed this.
Meanwhile, the parties are not planning a peaceful settlement in the near future. Saudi Arabia is not ready even for a five-day cessation of hostilities, said the head of the Houthi negotiating delegation, Mohammad Abdelsalam. Suponina confirmed that the parties to the conflict regularly exchange accusations because they are not ready for dialogue. According to the expert, sooner or later the parties will agree to a cease-fire, but now the Houthis want to consolidate the conquered territories in order to negotiate from a position of strength. Saudi Arabia, after large-scale strikes on its territory, is eager for revenge.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
