Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Moscow on Sunday night ahead of a high-level meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, following U.S. airstrikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities in the early hours of Sunday.
Araghchi, who earlier in the day was in Istanbul, addressed the media regarding the strikes, stating that diplomatic prospects with the United States are now effectively suspended.
“Last week, we were in negotiations with the U.S. when Israel decided to blow up that diplomacy. This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the U.S. decided to blow up that diplomacy. What conclusion would you draw?” Araghchi told reporters.
The Iranian minister is scheduled to meet Putin on Monday morning. Discussions are expected to center on the U.S. strikes, the broader regional conflict, and the strengthening of Iran-Russia strategic cooperation. Military assistance, weapons transfers, and intelligence-sharing may also be on the agenda.
Last week, during his appearance at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), President Putin signaled Moscow’s alignment with Tehran, stating that both nations were confronting “the same forces,” in reference to Western influence in the region.
Diplomatic countermeasures in response to U.S. and Israeli military actions are also expected to be discussed, as both Russia and China have been vocal in their support for Iran. Both countries have condemned Israel's actions, calling Tel Aviv the aggressor in the current conflict.
On Sunday, during a session of the United Nations Security Council, Russia criticized Israel for not being a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which exempts it from inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
These developments follow remarks made Saturday by former Russian President and current Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, who called on Israel to relinquish its nuclear arsenal. Medvedev’s comments mark a rare acknowledgment by a former world leader of Israel’s undeclared nuclear weapons program.