Amid failed US-Iran talks in Pakistan, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephonic conversation with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday, offering to mediate and help restore stability and peace in the conflict-hit Middle East, the Kremlin said.
Pezeshkian briefed Putin on the US-Iran talks held in Pakistan and thanked Moscow for its position 'aimed at de-escalating the situation,' the Kremlin said in a statement.
Putin emphasized his readiness to help bring about a diplomatic settlement to the hostilities and establish a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
"Vladimir Putin emphasised his readiness to further facilitate the search for a political and diplomatic settlement to the conflict, and to mediate efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East," the Kremlin said in its readout of the call.
Iran confirms talks with Putin
According to a statement shared on X by the Iranian President's office, the discussion took place shortly after the high-stakes talks in Pakistan failed to produce a breakthrough. During the call, the two leaders "reviewed the latest regional & international developments," including the current status of the ceasefire in the region.
Iran-US Islamabad talks failed
The outreach to Moscow follows a grueling marathon session in Islamabad, where negotiations between the United States and Iran lasted approximately 21 hours before ending in a stalemate.
The negotiations between the US and Iran have failed, US Vice President JD Vance said in an early morning media briefing in Islamabad on Sunday. Vance said the US has left a "very simple proposal" to Iran, which is its "final and best" offer. He said the US needs an affirmative commitment that Iran will not seek nuclear weapons, or tools that help them achieve one fast.
"Their nuclear program, such as it is, the enrichment facilities that they had before have been destroyed. But the simple question is - do we see a fundamental commitment of will for the Iranians not to develop a nuclear weapon, not just now or not just two years from now, but for the long term? We haven't seen that now, we hope that we will," he said.
The failure of the high-stakes talks in Pakistan after 21 hours casts doubt over the future of a fragile two-week ceasefire, due to expire on April 22.
However, the perspective from Tehran suggested a deep-seated divide over the scope of the negotiations. Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported that the dialogue ended without a framework due to what it termed "excessive demands" by the US.
According to the report, the primary points of contention remained centered on Iran's nuclear rights and control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, leaving the regional security situation in a state of heightened uncertainty.
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