Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in St. Petersburg on April 27, where he held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Prior to this, he visited Pakistan and Oman — countries acting as mediators in negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States.
At Pulkovo Airport, the Iranian minister was met by Russian officials and Iran’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Kazem Jalali. Araghchi noted that Moscow and Tehran traditionally engage in close consultations on regional and bilateral issues.
The meeting took place in the Petrovsky Hall of the Yeltsin Presidential Library. Putin stated that he had previously received a message from Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, but did not disclose its content.
Russian media quote Vladimir Putin as saying at the meeting with Araghchi that Moscow “will do everything (…) to ensure that peace in the Middle East is achieved as soon as possible.”
“The whole world has been shown the fact that the Iranian people, with their resistance, their courage, were able to withstand American attacks, American aggression, and will be able to endure and withstand this period of time,” Putin said.
The Russian president emphasized Moscow’s readiness to facilitate peace in the region.
Araghchi, in turn, stated that Iran continues to resist external pressure and conveyed greetings to Putin from Mojtaba Khamenei and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, RIA Novosti reports.
He emphasized that relations with Russia are viewed by Tehran as a strategic partnership and thanked Moscow for its support of Tehran.
The meeting was also attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov, and Head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Igor Kostyukov.
Besides Araghchi, the Iranian delegation members included Deuty Foreign Minister Kazem Gharib-Abadi and Iran’s Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali.
Iran’s diplomatic initiatives
St. Petersburg was Araghchi’s third stop in his trips aimed at finding a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. Earlier, he visited Pakistan, where contacts with American representatives were expected, but their trip was canceled, the BBC’s Russian Service reports.
According to media reports, Iran has proposed a multi-stage negotiation plan with the U.S. through intermediaries. Initially, it involves halting hostilities and guaranteeing their non-resumption, followed by discussions on the Strait of Hormuz situation and sanctions, and only after that — nuclear program issues.
It is separately noted that Tehran insists on the recognition of the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.
It is also reported that there is no unified position within the Iranian leadership regarding the U.S. demands for a prolonged suspension of the nuclear program.
The White House, commenting on these reports, stated that it does not negotiate through the press, emphasizing the sensitive nature of the diplomatic process.
The U.S. and Iran have been in a ceasefire mode since April 8. Initially, the truce was announced for two weeks, but on April 21, Trump extended it indefinitely. On April 11, talks between Iran and the U.S. were held in Pakistan (Washington was represented by Vice President J.D. Vance). No significant progress was made at these talks.
In the absence of meetings with American envoys, Abbas Araghchi intensified contacts with intermediaries. Before arriving in Russia, he visited Pakistan and Oman.
