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Analysis

Russia's Putin offers Trump help on Iran, likely with strings attached

As Iran weighs the US proposal for a nuclear deal, Russia has volunteered to play a role facilitating future talks.

US President Donald Trump (R) attends a meeting with Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, during the G20 summit in Osaka on June 28, 2019.
US President Donald Trump (R) attends a meeting with Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, during the G20 summit in Osaka on June 28, 2019. — BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

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WASHINGTON — With nuclear talks at an impasse, President Donald Trump is considering Russia's help in brokering an agreement with its ally Iran. But intervention from Moscow — a signatory to the 2015 nuclear deal that Trump is seeking to replace — is unlikely without the promise of gaining something in return. 

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov touted Moscow’s “close partner relations with Tehran.” 

“Naturally, President [Vladimir] Putin said that we are ready to use this level of partnership with Tehran in order to facilitate and contribute to the negotiations that are taking place to resolve the issue of the Iranian nuclear dossier," Peskov said.

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