Iran’s Khamenei delivers message to Russia’s Putin: NYT

• In a meeting with Vladimir Putin, senior Iranian official Ali Larijani signaled Tehran's willingness to ship its enriched uranium stockpile to Russia, reviving a key mechanism of the 2015 nuclear deal to facilitate a compromise.
• Mediated by regional partners like Turkey and Qatar, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to meet US envoy Steve Witkoff in Istanbul this Friday to discuss a nuclear-only deal, amid warnings from the Supreme Leader that military aggression would ignite a regional war.

Iranian officials have indicated Tehran's potential willingness to ship its stockpile of enriched uranium to Russia, echoing provisions of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

This proposal was conveyed through a recent meeting between Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Larijani delivered a personal message from Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during discussions in Moscow last week, highlighting Iran's openness to this arrangement as a step toward nuclear compromise.

The initiative comes against the backdrop of heightened US-Iran tensions, particularly under the administration of President Donald Trump, who has issued stern warnings regarding Iran's nuclear ambitions and domestic unrest.

US-Iran Talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has expressed optimism about negotiating a resolution focused solely on the nuclear program, while emphasizing eroded trust in Washington due to past withdrawals from agreements.

Tehran prefers establishing a regional nuclear consortium for electricity generation, with enrichment activities conducted outside Iran, rather than a complete shutdown of its program.

Russia has positioned itself as a mediator, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirming that discussions on storing or processing Iran's uranium have been ongoing for an extended period.

Peskov underscored Moscow's readiness to facilitate de-escalation by addressing concerns from multiple stakeholders, including the United States.

This offer aligns with Russia's historical role in the JCPOA, where it previously handled Iran's excess enriched material.

Ayatollah Khamenei has cautioned that any military aggression against Iran could ignite a broader regional conflict, a statement issued amid US military reinforcements in the Arabian Sea, including the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln.

Iranian officials have reiterated that negotiations will not extend to ballistic missiles or support for regional proxies, limiting talks to nuclear matters.

‘Israel’ has voiced apprehensions over a potential deal that omits restrictions on Iran's missile capabilities, viewing extended-range missiles as an existential threat.

A meeting is likely to take place in Turkey on Friday, following interventions by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and Oman, an Arab official told AFP on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.

US news site Axios cited two unnamed sources as saying Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was expected to meet with US envoy Steve Witkoff in Istanbul to discuss a possible deal on the nuclear issue.