Iran’s Araghchi meets Putin as US peace talks stall

Iran FM Araghchi Meets Putin in Russia After Pakistan Diplomacy

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in St. Petersburg on Monday to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, capping an intensive diplomatic tour across Pakistan and Oman as negotiations between Tehran and Washington over the ongoing conflict remain stalled.aljazeera

Shuttle Diplomacy Across Three Countries

Araghchi’s regional tour began Friday in Islamabad, where he met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Defence Forces and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss the broader regional situation and conditions for restarting talks with the United States. He then flew to Muscat on Saturday for consultations with Omani officials before returning briefly to Islamabad and departing for Russia.muscatdaily

Upon landing in St. Petersburg, Araghchi blamed Washington for the breakdown of earlier negotiations. “The demands from the U.S. led to the failure of the last round of talks, despite some progress, as they were excessive,” he told reporters, according to AFP. He described his Pakistan and Oman engagements as “productive,” adding that diplomatic channels remain open even as direct talks have stalled.firstpost

US-Iran Talks at an Impasse

The visit comes days after President Trump cancelled a planned trip to Islamabad by special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, dealing a blow to hopes for a second round of US-Iran peace talks. Trump said the trip would waste “too much time” and posted on Truth Social that “if they want to talk, all they have to do is call,” adding that Iran’s leadership was in disarray.bbc

Despite the cancellation, Trump told Axios the move did not signal a return to hostilities. “No. It doesn’t mean that. We haven’t thought about it yet,” he said.aawsat

Meanwhile, Iran has reportedly submitted a new proposal to Washington through intermediaries, according to Axios. The plan suggests a phased approach: a mutual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — where both Iranian and US blockades have disrupted global energy flows — while deferring nuclear negotiations to a later stage. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency confirmed that nuclear issues would not be discussed until the US ends its blockade. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, however, have reiterated that controlling the strait remains a core element of Tehran’s deterrent strategy.youtube

Russia’s Role in the Crisis

Tehran’s ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, said on X that the Araghchi-Putin meeting would focus on “coordinating interactions and advancing joint initiatives at both regional and international spheres”. Analysts note that Russia stands to play a role in any eventual settlement, given its ties to both Iran and its influence in broader Middle Eastern diplomacy.cnn

Araghchi struck a cautiously optimistic tone, telling Iranian media: “I am confident that these discussions and collaborations between the two nations in this context will hold significant importance”.aljazeera