Pro-Israel deterrence works as Iran panics, seeks cover through Russia and regional Arab intermediaries.
Iran is signaling a possible climbdown on its nuclear ambitions as mounting US military pressure and Israeli red lines push the regime toward de-escalation. According to senior Iranian officials, Tehran is prepared to suspend or shut down its nuclear program ahead of high-stakes talks scheduled in Istanbul, reflecting growing fear of decisive American and Israeli action.
The proposal reportedly favors a US-backed regional nuclear power consortium—an idea long discussed but previously rejected by Iran. Tehran is also floating the option of transferring enriched uranium out of the country, reviving a mechanism similar to the failed 2015 nuclear deal, this time with Russia acting as custodian.
Iranian National Security Council secretary Ali Larijani recently delivered a message from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to Russian President Vladimir Putin, underscoring Tehran’s search for external protection as pressure intensifies.
The expected Istanbul meeting would bring together US envoy Steve Witkoff, senior Iranian officials, and representatives from Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt—Arab states increasingly acting as diplomatic buffers to shield Iran from consequences.
US President Donald Trump made clear that talks are occurring under overwhelming force, warning that failure would lead to severe outcomes. Israeli officials view Iran’s sudden flexibility as proof that strength—not appeasement—halts nuclear threats and exposes the weakness of regimes that rely on terror proxies and intimidation across the Arab world.
