St. petersburg: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg today. This high-stakes meeting comes amid Iran's efforts to present a new proposal to the United States, aiming to end the ongoing conflict and reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
According to Thai News Agency, Araghchi's visit to Russia is part of Iran's broader diplomatic efforts to coordinate with its strategic ally on regional security issues. The meeting will address the impact of the recent US attack on Iran's nuclear nonproliferation system and Russia's initiative to draft a UN Security Council resolution opposing such aggression. Araghchi is also carrying a special message from Iran's Supreme Leader Mujtaba Khamenei for President Putin.
This diplomatic mission is one of several undertaken by Araghchi, who has been actively engaging with various countries to broker peace. His diplomatic tour began with discussions with Pakistani leaders on establishing a framework for a permanent ceasefire, with Pakistan playing the role of mediator. Following this, Araghchi visited Oman to address the security situation in the Strait of Hormuz, which remains closed. Notably, there was no planned meeting with the US delegation in Pakistan, prompting US President Donald Trump to cancel the delegation's visit. Trump stated that Iran should contact him directly for serious negotiations, asserting that the US currently holds a position of strength.
Meanwhile, reports from Al Jazeera and Axios indicate that Iran has proposed to the US, via Pakistan, an immediate end to hostilities and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to restore disrupted trade and oil routes. Iran has suggested deferring discussions on its nuclear program for later negotiations.
The proposal comes at a critical time for Iran, whose economy is under severe strain due to a US Navy blockade. While the White House has not confirmed its stance on the proposal, it insists that any agreement must permanently prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. President Trump, in a recent interview, emphasized his intent to maintain the blockade until a comprehensive deal covering all contentious issues, including Iran's nuclear ambitions, is achieved.