Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet Abbas Araghchi on Monday for high-level talks expected to focus on the Middle East conflict and broader regional dynamics, the Kremlin has said.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the meeting will address diplomatic coordination between Moscow and Tehran, as well as efforts to manage tensions and maintain balance in the region.
“The agenda includes the current situation in the Middle East, issues of coordination, and various aspects of regional stability,” Peskov told reporters ahead of the meeting.
The talks come amid ongoing instability in parts of the Middle East, with both Russia and Iran positioning themselves as key players in diplomatic and security discussions.
The war between Israel, the United States, and Iran began on February 28, 2026, when U.S. and Israeli forces launched a massive wave of airstrikes targeting Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure, killing senior officials and civilians in the opening hours.
Iran retaliated almost immediately with missile and drone attacks on Israeli cities and U.S. bases across the region, turning a long-running shadow conflict into a full-scale war. Within weeks, the fighting spread to countries like Lebanon, Iraq, and the Gulf, with thousands of strikes exchanged.
Estimates vary, but by early April at least 1,900 people had been killed and over 20,000 injured in Iran alone, while broader regional counts suggest several thousand deaths and tens of thousands of casualties overall as the conflict escalated.
Now, nearly two months into the war, the situation remains volatile with no decisive victory for either side, even as casualties continue to rise into the thousands across multiple countries. Diplomatic efforts have been ongoing but inconsistent.
Pakistan and Oman have mediated talks, leading to brief ceasefires and proposals, including plans to reopen key oil routes and phase down fighting. However, negotiations have repeatedly stalled over major disagreements particularly Iran’s nuclear programme and U.S. demands, while some meetings have been cancelled or downgraded to indirect talks.
Despite this, backchannel negotiations and new proposals are still emerging, showing that while the war continues on the ground, parallel efforts to reach a ceasefire and political settlement are still alive but fragile
Today’s meeting could further consolidate cooperation between the two countries, particularly in areas of shared strategic interest.
Russia has consistently called for political dialogue to resolve regional conflicts, while Iran remains deeply involved in several geopolitical hotspots, making their engagement significant for any broader peace efforts.
No official details have been released on potential agreements or outcomes expected from the meeting.