Iran has been a daily zig zag of messages, one day trumpeting negotiations with the West as possible, the next day saying its impossible, and the next day saying diplomacy is desirable again.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov discussed international efforts to resolve the situation around Iran's nuclear programme with Iranian ambassador Kazem Jalali, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

Russia is set to hold joint naval exercises with China and Iran in the Indian Ocean later this month, the Chinese defence ministry said on Sunday. The ‘Security Belt-2025’ joint exercise in the waters not far from Iran will be held later in March,

Over the past three years, the partnership has become deeper still, as Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine, and the resulting Western pressure, have helped transform Russia into an international pariah. That has turned the Islamic Republic into something resembling a lifeline for Mr. Putin’s government.

The US president said he had written a letter to Iran's supreme leader before talking about "final strokes" with Tehran, but questions have been raised regarding whether Russia's potential mediation will resolve the standoff.

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that future talks between Russia and the United States would include discussions on Iran's nuclear programme, a subject it said had been "touched upon" in an initial round of U.

Keith Kellogg warns of a growing security threat from a deepening alliance between Tehran, Moscow, Beijing and Pyongyang.

This week's Farda Briefing looks at how Russia's offer to mediate between Iran and the United States was received in Tehran.

Israelis are hoping that Iran hawks in the Trump administration might moderate any tendency to go easy on Tehran.

"We are primarily interested in understanding the essence of President Trump's new line," a former Russian envoy told Newsweek.

Russia and Iran remain aligned on Tehran’s goals for its domestic nuclear program, the Russian foreign ministry said this week.

Iran's Supreme leader has criticised "bullying" countries in an apparent response to Donald Trump's comments that he had sent a letter to Iran demanding negotiations over its nuclear programme. Trump said on Friday he had warned Tehran in a letter it could face military action unless it agreed to talks for a nuclear deal.