Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi has hailed Russia and Iran’s ties.
In a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks on the Iran war, Araghchi emphasized that relations between Moscow and Tehran represent a “strategic partnership” that will “continue to strengthen.”
The Iranian Foreign Minister arrived in Russia earlier today for talks with President Vladimir Putin, as part of efforts to end the United States-Israel war on Iran. Upon his arrival, Araghchi told Iranian media that he had travelled to Russia “with the aim of continuing close consultations between Tehran and Moscow on regional and international issues.”
The diplomat said his meeting with Putin “will be a good opportunity to discuss developments in the war and review the latest situation.” “I am confident that these consultations and coordination between the two countries in this regard will be of particular importance,” he added.
The visit follows an earlier meeting in Muscat with Omani officials, as Iran seeks to rally regional and international support for renewed negotiations.
Aside Araghchi, the Iranian delegation which met Putin in Russia also included Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi and Iran’s Ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali. Putin was joined by Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov and Igor Kostyukov, Head of Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency.
With direct talks to end the Iran war on hold, Iran’s Foreign Minister has been on the move for several days, visiting Pakistan twice, and Oman, before arriving in Russia.
Speaking in St Petersburg, Araghchi blamed Washington for the failure to reach a deal. He stated that Iran is “standing up to the world’s greatest superpower [the US],” adding that Washington has “not achieved a single one of their goals.” “That is why they have requested negotiations and we are looking into it,” he added. He said that the war showed that Iran “has great friends and allies like Russia,” as he thanked the Kremlin for their support.
For his part, President Donald Trump said that he’s still waiting for Iran to reply to his most recent proposals. Trump said that Iran had “offered a lot, but not enough” while adding on Sunday that Iranian leaders “can come to us, or they can call us” if they wanted to resume talks. Araghchi earlier described discussions in Islamabad as “very productive” and said they included a review of “the specific conditions under which negotiations between Iran and the US could continue.”
The diplomatic push comes as US President Donald Trump scrapped plans to send Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner to Pakistan’s capital Islamabad for talks with Iran on Saturday, citing “tremendous infighting and confusion” within Tehran’s leadership. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reiterated that Tehran will not enter negotiations while the blockade remains in place.
Putin Seeks Peace For Iran
On his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he hopes Iran will find peace after overcoming this difficult period. He also told Araghchi that Russia “will do everything to bring peace to the Middle East as soon as possible.”
During the meeting, Putin pledged that Russia will remain a staunch ally of Iran. “For our part, we will do everything that serves your interests, the interests of all the people of the region, so that peace can be achieved as soon as possible,” Putin told Araghchi.
The US President also hailed “how courageously and heroically the people of Iran are fighting for their independence and sovereignty,” and declared, “Russia, just like Iran, intends to continue our strategic relationship.”
Additionally, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Russia was ready to offer “goodwill or mediation services acceptable to both sides” in future negotiations on a settlement with Iran. “We will be ready to do everything to ensure that peace, a guaranteed peace, ultimately prevails and that there is no return to hostilities,” he stressed.
