What Did Putin and Iran's Foreign Minister Discuss During Their Meeting?

Putin and Araghchi Discuss Peace Efforts

Moscow: On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who commended the Iranian populace for their courageous fight for sovereignty. Putin expressed Russia's commitment to facilitating peace in West Asia as swiftly as possible.

During their meeting in St. Petersburg, Araghchi, who had previously engaged with leaders in Oman and Pakistan, expressed gratitude for Russia's support, as reported by the state-owned TASS news agency.

Putin emphasized, "Russia is prepared to do everything within its capabilities to achieve peace in the Middle East promptly," during the discussions that also included Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Putin mentioned receiving a message from Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei last week and asked Araghchi to extend his appreciation for the message and best wishes for Khamenei's health.

He praised the Iranian people for their "brave and heroic" efforts in defending their sovereignty, according to Iran's state-run PRESS TV.

Putin expressed hope that the Iranian people, guided by their new leader, would navigate through these challenging times and that peace would eventually prevail.

He reaffirmed Russia's intention to sustain its strategic partnership with Iran.

Araghchi remarked that the world has witnessed Iran's resilience against the US during recent conflicts, asserting that the Islamic Republic stands as a "stable and powerful establishment."

He noted that the Iranian people's bravery has enabled them to withstand US aggression and that they will continue to endure.

Araghchi conveyed warm greetings from Supreme Leader Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian to Putin, highlighting Iran's strong alliances, particularly with Russia.

He characterized the relationship between Moscow and Tehran as a "strategic partnership at the highest level," which will persist regardless of external circumstances.

Expressing gratitude for Russia's unwavering support for Iran, Araghchi stated, "We appreciate your solid and strong positions in favor of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

Foreign Minister Lavrov described the discussions between Putin and Araghchi as "useful and constructive."

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov later indicated that Russia is "ready to offer any good offices or mediation services that are acceptable to the parties involved."

Peskov stated, "We will do everything possible to ensure that lasting peace is achieved, preventing any return to hostilities."

Araghchi's visit to Russia followed a productive trip to Islamabad, where he held discussions with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir amid ongoing uncertainties regarding the second round of peace talks aimed at resolving the conflict in West Asia.

He described the consultations in Pakistan as successful, focusing on the direction and conditions for future negotiations.

Regarding the second round of talks between the US and Iran, Araghchi noted that there have been developments in the negotiations.

Despite some progress in earlier discussions, he pointed out that the talks fell short of their goals due to the US's approach and excessive demands, necessitating consultations with Pakistan to reassess the situation.

He expressed confidence that the coordination between Iran and Pakistan would be significant in addressing the US-Israeli conflict against Iran.

Upon his arrival at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport early Monday, Araghchi was welcomed by Russian officials and Iran's ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali.

The first round of peace talks between Iran and the US, held on April 11 and 12, did not yield the desired outcomes for the involved parties.

Araghchi's recent visit to Islamabad was his second in a short span, following a brief stop in Oman, where he discussed security in the Strait of Hormuz and diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iran-US conflict.

After Araghchi's departure from Pakistan for Oman, President Donald Trump announced that US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would not be traveling to Islamabad for discussions with Iran, asserting that Washington held all the leverage.

Trump reiterated that US and Iranian officials could communicate by phone to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

On Tuesday, Trump extended the two-week ceasefire with Iran indefinitely, allowing Tehran additional time to formulate a unified proposal to end the war, just hours before the truce was set to expire.

The conflict escalated following a joint attack by the US and Israel on Iran on February 28, resulting in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking commanders, which led to a broader conflict across the Gulf region.