Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Saint Petersburg on Sunday, reaffirming the deep strategic ties between Moscow and Tehran and pledging to work toward peace in the Middle East as swiftly as possible.
The meeting brought together senior officials from both sides, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, and Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff Igor Kostyukov, along with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi and Iran's Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali.
Message from Iran's Supreme Leader
Opening the talks, Putin revealed that he had received a personal message from Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei the previous week. Without disclosing its contents, the Russian president asked Araghchi to convey his "gratitude for this message and best wishes for his health and well-being."
Putin praised the resilience of the Iranian people, stating they are fighting "courageously and heroically" for their sovereignty. He expressed hope that Iran would navigate its current difficulties under new leadership and that peace would follow. "We very much hope that, drawing on this courage and desire for independence, the Iranian people will get through this difficult period of trials — and peace will come," Putin said.
Russia's Commitment to the Region
Putin made clear that Russia intends to maintain and strengthen its strategic relationship with Iran. He pledged that Moscow would do "everything in its power" to help bring peace to the Middle East as quickly as possible, acting in the interests of Iran and all the peoples of the region.
"For our part, we will do everything that serves your interests and the interests of all the peoples of the region, so that peace can be achieved as soon as possible," the Russian president said.
Iran: Standing Firm Against US Pressure
Araghchi, who arrived in St. Petersburg earlier in the day, opened the talks by conveying "warmest greetings" from Supreme Leader Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian to Putin. He thanked Russia for its steadfast support of Tehran, describing bilateral relations as a "strategic partnership at the highest level" that would continue to deepen "regardless of circumstances."
The Iranian foreign minister also struck a defiant tone toward Washington. "It has been proven to the whole world that the Iranian people, through their resistance and courage, were able to withstand American attacks and American aggression, and will endure through this period," he said.
Before the talks, Araghchi had signalled his intention to discuss coordinated efforts with Russia aimed at ending the conflict in the Middle East — a goal both nations appear firmly aligned on as regional tensions continue to escalate.
Photo: TASS