Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi Photo: VCG

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has briefed Moscow and Beijing on the details and progress of its negotiations with Washington over differences regarding Iran's nuclear program, Russian media outlet RIA Novosti reported Monday. A Chinese expert said the move reflects routine coordination under the strategic partnership and shows Iran actively seeking support and balance amid a complex geopolitical environment. 

A day earlier, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi wrote on social media platform X that he had held meetings with the Chinese and Russian ambassadors in Tehran following his visit to Beijing and the talks in Oman.

Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times on Monday that Iran keeps China and Russia closely briefed as part of routine coordination under its strategic partnerships and because, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, they can help counterbalance US influence. 

Zhu said Iran also seeks their backing to dilute US pressure and, if needed, mobilize diplomatic and political support, using timely updates to sync positions, strengthen its negotiating leverage and avoid isolation in the US-Iran standoff.

According to multiple media reports, the US and Iran held indirect negotiations in Oman on February 6. US President Donald Trump described the talks on February 6 as "very good," stating that Iran "wants a deal very badly" and warning that "if they don't make a deal, the consequences are very steep." Araghchi, after the talks, said they had a "good start," with both sides agreeing to continue negotiations, but emphasized that refraining from threats and pressure is a necessary precondition for any dialogue.

According to Iranian state agency IRNA, the foreign minister also stated Saturday that if the US launches an attack, Iran would not take action against the US homeland but would respond against US military bases in the Middle East region. He added that Iran would not attack neighboring countries, with actions limited to US military bases in the region.

The US side has also continued to ramp up pressure. Trump signed an executive order on February 6 imposing a 25 percent tariff on imports from any country that "directly or indirectly" purchases goods from Iran, just hours after the first round of nuclear talks concluded in Oman, the National News reported.

The current situation in Iran is highly complex and volatile, and although talks have begun, the risk of war has not been eliminated, Zhu said.

The anecdotal Pentagon's "pizza index," which tracks business loads of pizza shops around the Pentagon and reportedly suggesting the workload of the department, surged again on Sunday. According to tracking account Pentagon Pizza Watch, District Pizza Palace, an eatery one mile from the Pentagon, saw a 250 percent surge; We, The Pizza at the same distance followed at 149 percent; and Extreme Pizza, half a mile away, reached 143 percent.