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Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in St Petersburg on Monday, expressing hope that the Iranian people would overcome what he described as a “difficult period” and that peace would soon prevail.
“For our part, we will do everything that serves your interests and the interests of all the peoples of the region to ensure that peace is achieved as quickly as possible,” Mr Putin told Mr Araghchi, according to Russian state media.
Mr Putin said he had received a message last week from Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and asked Mr Araghchi to convey his thanks and reaffirm Moscow’s commitment to maintaining its strategic relationship with Tehran.
Russia has offered to mediate to restore calm in the Middle East following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which Moscow has condemned. It also proposed storing Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium as a way to ease tensions, an offer not taken up by Washington.
The two countries have strengthened ties in recent years, including a 20-year strategic partnership agreement. Russia is building two more units at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant, while Tehran has supplied Moscow with Shahed drones for use in the war in Ukraine.
During his meeting with the Russian president, Mr Araghchi said that “the whole world saw Iran's real power in confronting America, and it became clear that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a stable, strong, and powerful system.”
“In the recent war, it became clear that Iran has great friends and allies like Russia; we thank you for your positions and your support,” he said.
"There are now very good grounds for co-operation. Mr Putin also stated that not only Russia, but the whole world is praising the people of Iran for their steadfastness against the United States and for their victory in this unequal and unjust war," Mr Araghchi told reporters after the meeting, which he said lasted for more than an hour and a half.
"It is clear that Iran is standing in front of the world's largest superpower and they have not achieved even one of their goals. That is why they have requested negotiations, and we are considering it."
Moscow is an important ally for Tehran, standing by it since the war began on February 28. Russia, earlier this month, vetoed a UN resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz after Iran imposed a de facto blockade of the waterway in response to being attacked.
Mr Araghchi arrived in Russia on Monday at the end of a busy tour that included two stops in Islamabad, one in Muscat, and several calls with Arab officials, as Tehran pursues regional diplomacy rather than direct engagement with the US to end the war.
On Sunday, Mr Araghchi spoke to Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, who stressed the need for all parties to “engage constructively with continuing mediation efforts”. He urged a shift towards dialogue and peaceful solutions that “address the root causes of the crisis and lead to a sustainable agreement, not just a temporary pause in hostilities”.
Mr Araghchi also underscored the importance of keeping maritime corridors open and spoke to his Saudi and Egyptian counterparts.
He arrived in Pakistan late on Friday and left for Oman the following day after talks with Pakistani officials. He returned to Islamabad on Sunday for further talks, indicating that the discussions were positive.
“The trip to Islamabad was a very good trip and good consultations were held, during which a review was made of what had happened and under what conditions the negotiations between Iran and the United States could continue,” Mr Araghchi said upon landing in Russia.
With diplomacy deadlocked, Iran has reportedly presented the US with another proposal to open the Strait of Hormuz and end the war. Nuclear discussions would come at a later stage, a US official and two sources familiar with the discussions said.
Mr Araghchi's trip to Moscow was taking place on the same day that US President Donald Trump is expected to convene a Situation Room meeting with senior national security and foreign policy officials in Washington to assess current events and consider possible next steps, Axios reported.
Mr Trump has signalled little appetite for easing pressure. In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, he indicated that he wants to maintain a US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz that has curtailed Iran’s oil exports, in the hope that sustained economic strain could force Tehran to concede within weeks.
“When you have vast amounts of oil … and for any reason that line is closed … that line explodes from within,” Mr Trump said, suggesting Iran’s leadership could face severe internal pressure if exports remain blocked.
At the same time, he invited Iran to take part in direct talks. “If they want to talk, they can come to us or they can call us,” he said.
In a signal that further talks in Islamabad are not expected soon, security restrictions have been lifted around the hotel where the first round of negotiations took place on April 11-12.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, also Deputy Prime Minister, said his country would “continue our efforts for peace in the region”.
