Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is in St Petersburg for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid stalled negotiations with the US. Araghchi earlier said it was unclear whether Washington was “truly serious about diplomacy” after Trump called off plans for US envoys to visit Pakistan.
Russian officials confirmed Araghchi's visit on Monday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the meeting would focus on the escalating war. Iran’s ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, said the foreign minister planned “to hold consultations with the Russian authorities on the current situation in the talks, the ceasefire and developments around the conflict” in the Gulf.
Iran has proposed a phased deal to the US, offering to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for ending hostilities. The plan focuses on removing the US naval blockade and restoring oil flows while postponing nuclear negotiations to a later stage, Axios reported.
The visits come as Iran and the United States remain at odds over how to resume negotiations. Araghchi said it is unclear whether US President Donald Trump is committed to diplomacy, particularly after Washington cancelled plans to send envoys to Pakistan.
Tensions linked to the Strait of Hormuz remain a key concern, affecting both security and energy flows. Vessel traffic remains sharply lower than pre-war levels, according to MarineTraffic data.
Meanwhile, a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has failed to hold after PM Benjamin Netanyahu ordered fresh strikes on Lebanon. Despite a US-brokered extension meant to hold for at least three weeks, Israel has repeatedly bombed the country. Over four people died in fresh strikes, Lebanese media reported.
