Iran FM meets Putin, conveys message from Supreme Leader

MOSCOW: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg, where he conveyed a message from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Russian news agencies reported on Monday.

Putin said he had received the message and asked Araghchi to pass on his “best wishes” to the Supreme Leader, according to Russian media.

He expressed hope that the Iranian people would overcome the current difficult period and that peace would be restored, adding that Russia would do what it could in the interests of Iran and regional countries.

Putin also said Moscow intended to continue its strategic relationship with Tehran.

Araghchi said ties between Iran and Russia were based on a strategic partnership that would continue to strengthen, and thanked Moscow and Putin for their support, Russian news agencies reported.

The Iranian foreign minister had arrived earlier in St Petersburg, a visit seen as significant amid ongoing regional tensions and diplomatic efforts to ease the standoff between Iran and the United States.