With US Talks Stalled, Iran Turns to Putin

Iran's top diplomat made a high-profile stop in Russia on Monday as efforts to restart negotiations with the US showed little movement. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg after Araghchi visited Oman and Pakistan, both active intermediaries in the stalled talks, the Washington Post reports. Putin told Araghchi, according to Russian state media, that his government would do everything it could to help secure peace in the region. Russia will act in ways that serve Iran's interests and those of "all the peoples of the region," Putin was reported to say.

Russian outlets did not say what concrete backing, if any, he offered behind closed doors. Western officials say Russia has provided Iran with targeting intelligence against US forces, even as Putin has tried to reassure President Trump that Russia is not sharing such data and is seeking a role as mediator. Araghchi had traveled to Pakistan over the weekend to meet with US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, whom Trump said he told at the last minute not to go. The US hasn't "achieved a single goal" in its war with Iran, the foreign minister said, adding that "that's why" Trump is "asking for negotiations, and we're considering it," per NBC News.