NATO’s Shadow Over the Caspian: The Fall of Iran Could Be Catastrophic for Russia

The failure of negotiations between the United States and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program has placed the world on the brink of a new conflict. For Russia, such a scenario would be existential. Iran's Nuclear Program Not Destroyed The talks between the United States and Iran in Geneva, concluded on February 26-27, ended fruitlessly. They took place against the backdrop of an unprecedented US military buildup in the Middle East and threats of strikes against Iran in the event of diplomatic failure. The United States insists on the complete dismantling of key Iranian nuclear facilities — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — and the transfer of enriched uranium stockpiles under external control. Washington demands that Iran never be allowed to enrich uranium above the civilian level of 3.67 percent and permanently halt research into new, faster centrifuge models such as the IR-9, which make it possible to accumulate bomb material within days.