The story: In Iran, sentiments in the press and social media towards potential Russian mediation of talks with the US reflect deep mistrust of both Moscow and Washington. The skepticism is apparent across the political spectrum, with the general consensus being that Iran must be careful not to become a bargaining chip in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s dealings with his US counterpart Donald Trump.

The coverage: Bloomberg on Mar. 4 reported that Russia is ready to mediate talks between Tehran and Washington, becoming the...