Iran’s Foreign Minister Is Flying to Moscow for a Meeting With Putin—Amid Suspended Talks With the U.S.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi will pay an official visit to Moscow on April 27, the Iranian embassy in Russia said.

During the trip, Araghchi—one of the key negotiators with Pakistan and the United States—is expected to hold meetings, including with Russian president Vladimir Putin. That was confirmed by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

According to the Iranian side, the consultations will focus on the situation in the Middle East—the course of negotiations with the United States, the prospects for a ceasefire, and other aspects of the conflict’s evolution.

Moscow presents itself as Tehran’s strategic partner, but since the start of the war it has avoided direct public backing for Iran. At the same time, according to western intelligence services, Russia reached agreements on drone supplies to Iran and also passed on targeting information for strikes on US military facilities.

Talks between the United States and Iran, held with Pakistan acting as mediator, are now effectively on hold. Tehran is linking their resumption to the fulfilment of certain conditions, including the lifting of the blockade and guaranteed free passage for Iranian vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.