Russia Says Ready to Step In as Mediator in U.S.-Iran Peace Talks

(MENAFN) Moscow has signaled its willingness to step in as a peace broker between Washington and Tehran, as prospects for direct U.S.-Iran dialogue remain dim, a senior Russian diplomat revealed.

Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, made the offer in remarks published by Russian newspaper Izvestia, stating that Moscow stands prepared to bridge the deepening divide between the two adversaries.

"Of course, if necessary, Russia is ready to provide mediation services," the Russian diplomat said.

While Ulyanov acknowledged that a resumption of direct U.S.-Iran negotiations appears unlikely in the near term, he stressed that neither side can achieve its core demands through military means alone — with Washington seeking to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and Tehran pushing for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions.

The senior diplomat added that Iran has expressed openness to Russian involvement in facilitating talks. Washington, however, has rebuffed the idea of third-party intervention, projecting confidence in its ability to handle negotiations independently.

Ulyanov was pointed in his assessment of that approach.

"The Americans are actually handling this very poorly," Ulyanov concluded.

The offer underscores Moscow's continued push to assert diplomatic relevance in one of the world's most volatile geopolitical standoffs, even as its own international standing remains deeply contested.

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