Russian President Vladimir Putin has personally entered the diplomatic efforts surrounding the escalating confrontation between the United States and Iran, holding a telephone conversation with a senior Iranian security official as Washington and Tehran consider a new proposal to restart nuclear negotiations.

According to a report Monday by Israel’s Channel 12, Putin spoke with Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in a development that could signal Moscow’s entry into the international mediation efforts.

Iran’s Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that Rezaei thanked Putin for Russia’s support of the Iranian people. Both officials reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening strategic cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.

The conversation is particularly significant because Rezaei was reportedly the recipient of a letter delivered last week by U.S. Vice President JD Vance containing an American proposal to resume negotiations.

Channel 12 reported that Putin’s direct involvement may indicate an understanding with Washington, although no American authorization or coordination has been publicly confirmed.

The diplomatic developments come just one day before the U.S. midterm elections, with President Donald Trump facing a critical decision over whether to pursue a negotiated agreement or resume military operations against Iran.

According to the report, Qatari mediators have presented both sides with a draft agreement that would establish a limited framework for rebuilding confidence and reopening nuclear negotiations.

The proposal reportedly includes reciprocal confidence-building measures followed by a three-day negotiating process focused on Iran’s nuclear program.

Both Washington and Tehran are now considering the draft.

Despite the renewed diplomatic activity, substantial disagreements remain, and there is no indication that either side has accepted the proposed framework.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly pressing Trump to resume military action against Iran rather than pursue another diplomatic agreement.

According to Channel 12, Netanyahu raised the issue during a telephone conversation with Trump on Shabbos and strongly advocated renewed military operations.

Trump reportedly did not rule out another round of fighting but indicated that he currently prefers to determine whether the latest diplomatic initiative can produce an agreement.

The report cautioned that negotiations could collapse within hours or days, potentially prompting Washington to reconsider its military options.

Another indication of possible diplomatic movement came Monday from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had granted the Iranian government certain powers to pursue an agreement with the United States.

“Tehran will try to resolve the problems through dialogue,” Pezeshkian said.

However, it remains unclear whether the authority granted to the Iranian government will be sufficient to overcome the major disputes separating the two countries.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also addressed the diplomatic efforts Monday, describing consultations as particularly intensive because of the sensitivity of the situation.

He said Qatar and Pakistan were playing active roles in mediating between Washington and Tehran.

“We are fully prepared to defend ourselves, and equally prepared to act in the diplomatic arena and find a solution through negotiations. We have presented our conditions and also conveyed our proposal,” Araghchi said.

He then placed responsibility for the next stage of negotiations squarely on Washington.

“From here on, it depends on the United States — whether it is prepared to choose the path of wisdom, diplomacy and negotiations, or whether it wants, as in previous instances, to turn to military action.”

Araghchi warned that Iran remains prepared for either outcome and threatened that renewed American military action would produce consequences worse than those experienced previously.

The Strait of Hormuz remains another major obstacle in the negotiations.

Araghchi reiterated that Tehran would agree to reopen the strategically important waterway only if its conditions were accepted.

“If they accept these conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will open and negotiations will resume. If they do not accept them, the situation will remain as it is,” he said.

“We will not bow our heads before these powers,” the Iranian foreign minister added.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)