APRIL 27, 2026
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi Meets Putin in Moscow as U.S.-Iran Peace Talks Remain Stalled
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Moscow on Monday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, following a weekend diplomatic tour that included stops in Pakistan and Oman. The visit comes after U.S.-Iran negotiations stalled when President Donald Trump canceled his envoys' planned trip to Islamabad, citing a lack of a satisfactory Iranian proposal. Trump said Iran could "call us" if it wanted to resume talks, while reiterating the war could "come to an end very soon."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in St. Petersburg on Monday for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the latest stop on a diplomatic tour that also included Pakistan and Oman. Araghchi described the visit as "a good opportunity to consult with our Russian colleagues regarding developments related to the war," according to Iranian state media. Putin expressed support for Iran during the meeting, telling TASS: "We see how courageously and heroically the Iranian people are fighting for their independence, for their sovereignty." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said ahead of the meeting that "the importance of this conversation is difficult to overestimate."
The Moscow meeting followed a weekend in which U.S.-Iran talks broke down for the second time. Trump canceled a planned trip by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad shortly after Araghchi departed Pakistan on Saturday. Trump cited "infighting and confusion" within Iranian leadership and said the journey — described as an 18-hour flight — was not worthwhile without a clearer path to a deal. Before heading to Russia, Araghchi also stopped in Oman, where he said "some agreements have been reached" on the Strait of Hormuz; Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi described a "good discussion" but made no mention of signed agreements.
Iran put forward a new proposal, reported by Al Mayadeen and cited by Iran's Tasnim News Agency, under which Washington would first end the war and provide guarantees against its resumption before any discussion of the Strait of Hormuz or Iran's nuclear program. The White House said Trump planned to meet with top national security officials Monday to review the proposal and options going forward, including whether to resume the suspended U.S. bombing campaign. Press secretary Olivia Wales stated: "The United States holds the cards and will only make a deal that puts the American people first, never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon."