Trump and Putin Align on Iran’s Nuclear Threat, Discuss Cooperation
President Trump and President Putin agree on the necessity of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, according to the White House. Their recent discussion also touched upon the need for cooperation in the Middle East to avoid future conflicts and the importance of halting strategic weapons proliferation. Meanwhile, Russia is requesting a relaxation of U.S. sanctions on Iran.
The White House has affirmed that President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin share a common stance on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. This consensus emerged following their recent telephone conversation, in which they discussed strategies to conclude the war in Ukraine and emphasized the necessity of preventing Iran from obtaining capacity to threaten Israel.
In a statement, the White House noted, “The leaders spoke broadly about the Middle East as a region of potential cooperation to prevent future conflicts.” They reiterated their commitment to curtail the proliferation of strategic weaponry and plan to collaborate with various stakeholders.
On another note, Russia has been advocating for a relaxation of U.S. sanctions on Iran, which they claim have severely impacted Tehran’s economy. During a meeting in Beijing with officials from China and Iran, Russia asserted that diplomatic dialogue based on mutual respect is the only effective method to address the situation.
Russia has maintained a strategic relationship with Iran, utilizing Iranian drones in its military operations in Ukraine since 2022. Notably, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy has documented the employment of Iranian-made drones by Russia against Ukrainian targets.
The Defense Intelligence Agency has reported that Iran provided Russia access to “hundreds” of one-way attack drones, further asserting that debris from these attacks substantiates Iran’s involvement. In February, Trump indicated that Iran was nearing the completion of a nuclear weapon and reinstated a maximum pressure policy aimed at crippling Iran’s oil exports.
In addition, Trump has stated that a nuclear agreement could be forthcoming, emphasizing the urgency of negotiations with Iran. He indicated that without such an agreement, military intervention might be the next step, cautioning that this could have dire consequences for Iran. Trump remarked, “I would rather negotiate a deal… Something is going to happen one way or the other.”
In summary, both President Trump and President Putin are aligned in their opposition to Iran’s potential acquisition of nuclear weapons, seeking collaborative efforts to avert further conflicts in the Middle East. Concurrently, Russia is pushing for a lifting of sanctions on Iran while maintaining military cooperation. Trump’s administration has reaffirmed its commitment to preventing Iran from developing nuclear capabilities, advocating for diplomatic negotiations to avoid military escalation.
Original Source: wfin.com
