Russia steps in to help Iran? Araghchi arrives in Saint Petersburg – to meet with Putin

At the center of the talks will be coordination of actions and the advancement of joint programs at the regional and international level, Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali announced on the social network X.

“Due to the imposed war in the recent period, there has been a pause in meetings. Following my visits to Pakistan and Oman, we also organized a trip to Russia, which created an opportunity to discuss developments related to the war and the current situation with our Russian friends, as well as to review the latest developments. Of course, proper coordination is also necessary,” Araghchi said upon landing in Saint Petersburg, according to Tasnim.

Russia and Iran are long-standing partners, and Moscow has been a key diplomatic ally of Tehran during its conflict with the United States.

The Kremlin had previously offered to take over Iran’s enriched uranium for storage or processing on Russian soil, but that proposal was reportedly rejected by then–U.S. President Donald Trump.

• Iran has sent a new proposal to end the war

 

The partnership was further strengthened in January last year, when the two countries signed a 20-year agreement on economic, military, and political cooperation. Although Russia considers U.S. strikes on Iran to be “unprovoked aggression,” it is important to note that the signed agreement does not include a mutual defense clause.

Intelligence and mediation

CNN reported in March, citing multiple sources familiar with U.S. intelligence, that Russia has been providing Iran with information about the locations and movements of American troops, ships, and aircraft. This was interpreted as an early sign that Moscow is seeking to become more involved in the conflict.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a recent conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Mohammad Ishaq Dar that he “highly values” Islamabad’s mediation efforts between Iran and the United States, and expressed Moscow’s “readiness to contribute” to them.

The visit to Russia is the final stop of Araghchi’s foreign tour, during which he also met on Sunday with key mediators in Pakistan and Oman.