Russian President Vladimir Putin told Iran’s top diplomat that Moscow would do everything it could to help secure peace in the Middle East, during a meeting in Saint Petersburg on Monday.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking on arrival in Russia, had blamed Washington for the failure of talks on brokering a deal to end the fighting, with a ceasefire between the sides still holding.
"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," Russian state media quoted Putin as telling Araghchi.
Putin also hailed "how courageously and heroically the people of Iran are fighting for their independence and sovereignty", the TASS news agency reported.
"Russia, just like Iran, intends to continue our strategic relationship," the Kremlin chief added.
Araghchi was in Saint Petersburg on the fourth leg of a whirlwind diplomatic tour, having sandwiched a trip to Oman in between two visits to main mediator Pakistan over the past few days.
Islamabad hosted the first and only round of US-Iran talks, and Araghchi’s visit had fanned hopes for fresh negotiations over the weekend, until US President Donald Trump scrapped a planned trip by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
"The US approaches caused the previous round of negotiations, despite progress, to fail to reach its goals because of the excessive demands," Araghchi said Monday.
After nixing his emissaries’ trip, Trump told Fox News that if Iran wanted talks, "they can call us" — though he has said the cancellation does not signal a return to hostilities.
Following their meeting, Putin and Araghchi both voiced their commitment to the two countries’ "strategic relationship".
Putin promised that Russia would "do everything that serves your interests... so that peace can be achieved", state media reported.
Araghchi said the war with the US and Israel had shown the world "Iran’s true power" and the stability of its governing system.
