Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has called on Russia to play a more active role in the upcoming nuclear negotiations, citing growing skepticism over U.S. intentions as the second round of talks approaches, reports RFE.
Speaking alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Friday, Araqchi said Iran still believes a deal is possible.
“Despite our serious doubts about the motives and goals of the American side, we will participate in tomorrow’s negotiations,” Araqchi stated.
Araqchi is scheduled to meet White House special envoy Steve Witkoff in Rome on April 19 for the second round of discussions over Tehran’s nuclear program.
The first round, held last week in Oman, marked the highest-level engagement between Tehran and Washington since former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the historic 2015 nuclear agreement in 2018.
Western nations, including the U.S., have long accused Iran of seeking to build nuclear weapons—claims that Tehran denies, insisting its program is purely for civilian purposes such as electricity generation.
Earlier this week, Witkoff called for an immediate end to Iran’s uranium enrichment programs. International inspectors say Tehran has enriched uranium to 60 percent purity—dangerously close to weapons-grade levels.
On April 16, Araqchi responded firmly:
“Our enrichment efforts are not up for negotiation.”
He added that if the other parties show a realistic approach and abandon unreasonable demands, a new agreement is within reach.
Since taking office in January, Trump has increased military pressure on Iran by deploying more U.S. air and naval forces to the region, yet he continues to advocate for direct negotiations with Iranian officials.
“I’m not asking for much,” Trump said earlier this month. “But they cannot have nuclear weapons.”
