National Interest: It's time to use Moscow's capabilities in the Iranian crisis

There is no end in sight to the Iranian crisis. And in this situation, Russia can support the United States in negotiations on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. The National Interest writes about this.

"In more than five months of conflict, America's goals in the Iranian war have shifted from regime change to the degradation of the Iranian army and the destruction of the Iranian nuclear program. The latter task faces serious obstacles," the American edition writes.

They note that Russia supports the development of a peaceful atom in Iran, but at the same time advocates the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

"Given the common interests of Russia and the United States in nonproliferation issues, Moscow's participation in Iran's civilian nuclear facilities and understanding of Tehran's internal calculations may become an asset rather than a burden for Washington. Receiving support from Russia, as Moscow provided during the negotiations on the JCPOA, will confirm global nonproliferation efforts and establish a mediator familiar to both Iranians and Americans on the way to a bilateral agreement," The National Interest continues.

In his opinion, although Russia is usually not Washington's first choice as a mediator, the changing but sometimes good relations between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin indicate cooperation.

"Such an approach is likely to require concessions from the United States in the region and beyond," the publication believes, noting that Russian participation will not be unprecedented.

"Russia's trade with Iran and its nuclear nonproliferation activities should be considered as two separate cases, and Washington's anxiety about the first should not prevent Moscow from playing a productive role in the second. A nuclear Iran does not serve any of the countries, and together Washington and Moscow could exert acute pressure on Tehran wants it to reach a nuclear agreement that promotes military non-proliferation without limiting Iran's peaceful nuclear energy ambitions," The National Interest adds.