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Russian President Vladimir Putin has reaffirmed Moscow's opposition to the spread of weapons of mass destruction, including any potential acquisition by Iran, while supporting Tehran's right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Speaking to Sky News Arabia in an interview published Saturday, Putin stated that Russia supports Iran's right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, emphasizing that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has "found no evidence" suggesting Tehran seeks to build nuclear weapons.
"We believe Iran has the right to use nuclear energy peacefully, and we are ready to help," Putin said.
The Russian president highlighted Iran's fatwa banning nuclear weapons as a serious and "important" step that should be taken seriously, describing it as part of Russia's firm opposition to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Putin revealed that Moscow had informed Israeli leaders multiple times that "Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons," urging dialogue to reduce regional fears and promote collective security.
"Russia, as well as the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), has never had any evidence that Iran is preparing to obtain nuclear weapons, as we have repeatedly put the Israeli leadership on notice," Putin stated.
Speaking at an economic forum in St. Petersburg on Friday, Putin said Russia was sharing its ideas on how to stop the bloodshed in the Iran-Israel conflict with both sides, though he did not provide details of those proposals.
Hostilities intensified on June 13 when Israel launched airstrikes on several sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.
The exchange marked a significant escalation in regional tensions between the two countries.
The Russian president also addressed the Ukraine conflict, stating it is essential to "declare Ukraine a neutral country, outside any military alliances, and without nuclear weapons," adding that such guarantees are vital for lasting regional stability.
Putin stressed that Russia insists on Kyiv recognizing the results of referendums held in four Ukrainian regions, warning, "Ignoring them would mean the possibility of renewed armed conflict."
He claimed that Russia and Ukraine were close to an agreement during the 2022 Istanbul talks, expressing hope that Ukraine's current leadership would prioritize national interests "rather than the agendas of third parties."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday in Moscow, according to reports from NBC News and Axios.
In an interview with NBC News in Geneva following talks with top European diplomats, Araghchi said Iran is ready to negotiate but insisted that Israel first must halt its aerial attacks.
Regarding potential negotiations with the U.S., Araghchi said it was up to the Trump administration "to show their determination for going for a negotiated solution."
"Or they have something else in their mind, and they want to attack Iran anyway," he continued.
The foreign minister suggested that the US "perhaps has this plan, and they just needed negotiations, perhaps to cover it up," referring to Israeli air attacks. He said Iran does not know if the U.S. can be trusted anymore and called the Trump administration's actions a "betrayal of diplomacy."
When asked if a deal with the U.S. could be reached within two weeks, Araghchi emphasized that the timeline depends on American willingness to pursue genuine negotiations rather than using talks as cover for military action.
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