Russian nuclear support lurks behind Iran-US talks in Oman

Global Watch | 2026-02-12

The latest round of US-Iran nuclear negotiations in Oman, held on February 6, marked a tentative restart after months of standoffs.

They unfolded against a wider arms-control shock that same week: the US said the New START framework had lapsed on February 5 and pushed for a broader "new architecture" involving Russia and China.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the talks in Oman a "good start," adding that they focused strictly on Tehran's nuclear program while sidelining ballistic missiles as "non-negotiable."

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner represented Washington, with Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi shuttling between rooms in indirect talks at Muscat's Al Alam Palace.

President Donald Trump hailed the discussions as "very good" but kept military threats on the table, warning Iran's Supreme Leader to be "very worried."

Yet beneath these public exchanges lies a web of Iran-Russia collaboration that mainstream reports often overlook.

Moscow's role extends beyond public reactor deals, involving discreet transfers of sensitive nuclear data, raw materials and financial backing that could accelerate Iran's capabilities.

This partnership, forged amid mutual sanctions evasion, threatens to undermine any fragile progress in Oman.

Hidden technology sharing

Russia has long supplied Iran with nuclear expertise, but recent developments point to deeper, less-reported exchanges.

In 2025, Moscow and Tehran signed a comprehensive strategic pact emphasizing expanded civilian nuclear ties, including joint fuel fabrication know-how.

Experts allege Russia has shared advanced enrichment techniques, potentially aiding Iran's threshold status -- where it can produce weapons-grade material without full-scale weaponization.

This goes beyond the Bushehr reactor, where Russia delivers low-enriched uranium fuel and repatriates spent rods to prevent proliferation risks.

The broader "bridge" between Tehran and Moscow has included structured education and exchange -- Iranian students training at Russian technical institutions under Bushehr-linked cooperation, and later waves of university cooperation supporting faculty exchanges and joint programs.

Lesser-known are reports of Moscow offering to export Iran's excess highly enriched uranium and adapt it for reactor use, a move that could mask covert weaponization efforts.

Such sharing includes dual-use components for centrifuges, drawn from Russia's vast uranium conversion dominance -- controlling up to 46% of global enrichment capacity.

Iran, in turn, leverages this to bolster its Fordow facility, quietly converting it from enrichment to isotope production under Russian guidance.

These transfers evade widespread scrutiny, as they fall under "civilian" umbrellas.

Yet they align with Iran's strategy to maintain breakout potential, estimated at weeks for a crude device if unchecked. As Oman talks emphasize transparency, Moscow's tech infusions quietly erode it.

Financial lifelines exposed

Financial backing forms another pillar of this alliance, often overshadowed by drone and arms deals.

Russia has committed $25 billion to build four new reactors at Bushehr and sites like Sirik and Karun, with Tehran reducing its debt to unlock progress.

This funding, routed through Rosatom, helps Iran offset sanctions losses, valued at billions annually in foregone oil revenues.

Moscow benefits economically, securing contracts while using Iran to counter US influence in the Middle East.

In exchange, Tehran provides military hardware for Russia's Ukraine efforts, creating a barter system that dodges dollar-based sanctions.

This financial nexus peaked in 2025 when Russia proposed removing Iran's enriched stockpiles, a gesture that could buy Tehran time amid Oman scrutiny.

Yet it risks escalating tensions, as shared materials might include proliferation-sensitive isotopes.

As Oman negotiations drag on, with Araghchi pushing for sanctions relief and Trump demanding verifiable curbs, Russia's shadow looms large.

This partnership not only sustains Iran's program but amplifies risks in an unstable region.

Without addressing these hidden links, any Oman accord remains superficial.

Moscow's aid -- technical, material, and financial -- ensures Iran's atomic resilience, turning talks into a facade for deeper entrenchment. Global watchers must probe these ties to avert a proliferation cascade.