Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in St Petersburg on Monday after visits to Pakistan and Oman for talks on bilateral ties and regional developments, including a fragile ceasefire, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and stalled peace negotiations with the U.S.
Meanwhile, local media affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) reported that over the weekend Araghchi delivered Iran’s messages to Pakistan to be relayed to U.S. officials. The messages concerned a potential deal to end the war and reopen the strategic waterway, while postponing discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme.
“I am visiting Russia to meet with senior Russian officials with the aim of continuing close consultations between Tehran and Moscow on regional and international issues and improving bilateral relations,” he said in remarks broadcast on state-owned IRIB TV.
Iran’s top diplomat departed for Islamabad on Friday (24 April), where he met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munier, and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar.
“The visit to Pakistan was a very good one, with fruitful consultations, during which a review was made of what had happened and under what conditions the (Iran-U.S.) negotiations could continue,” he said.
Araghchi then travelled to Muscat on Saturday, where he met Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi. Oman previously mediated indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington in 2025, which were halted by Israel-U.S. attacks last June.
“Iran and Oman are two coastal countries of the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
“It is necessary for us to consult with each other, especially since safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz has become an important issue at the global level," Araghchi added.
Following his regional tour, Araghchi is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Monday, as well as Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
He said, “Today's meetings will be an opportunity to discuss developments in the war and review the latest situation in this regard. I am confident that these consultations and coordination between the two countries in this regard will be of particular importance.”
According to the Fars news agency, Araghchi also conveyed written messages outlining Iran’s position on its “nuclear red lines” and the Strait of Hormuz to the U.S. via Pakistan.
“The exchange of messages had nothing to do with negotiations and was an initiative by Iran to clarify the situation in the region and clearly declare Tehran’s red lines,” the agency reported.
During his visits to Pakistan and Oman, Araghchi also held phone calls with counterparts from Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and France.
Local media, citing Foreign Ministry releases, said the discussions focused on bilateral relations, ceasefire prospects, and stalled negotiations between Iran and the U.S.
Meanwhile, Jamshid Nezami, First Deputy President of Iran’s Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, said civilians account for nearly half of the deaths in the war involving the U.S. and Israel.
Speaking at a press conference in Tehran on Sunday, he highlighted the heavy toll on ordinary people not involved in military operations.
“3,468 people were killed in the war that began on 28 February, with 1,460 of them - around 45% - identified as civilians who were not present at military sites at the time of the attacks,” the state-owned IRNA news agency quoted him as saying.
Earlier, Abbas Masjedi Arani, head of the Iranian Legal Medicine Organization, said the highest number of casualties were recorded in Tehran, followed by Hormuzgan Province in the south and Isfahan Province in central Iran.
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U.S. President Donald Trump says China's Xi Jinping agreed Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran prepares a new shipping mechanism. Tensions over the U.S. blockade and stalled nuclear talks continue to disrupt global oil supplies.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 16th of May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Washington shows seriousness. His remarks came as talks on Iran’s nuclear programme continued, with Trump and Xi also opposing Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
Iran’s Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that the U.S. military blockade of Iran’s southern ports could trigger a new global financial crisis as the Tehran-Washington standoff around the strategic Strait of Hormuz persists.
Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, taking victory in a final overshadowed by a boycott over Israel’s participation and the war in Gaza.
At least eight people were injured after a driver rammed a car into pedestrians in the northern Italian city of Modena, authorities said on Saturday. Four of the victims were reported to be in serious condition.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could destroy Iran’s infrastructure “in two days,” while Tehran warned the U.S. would face growing economic costs from the conflict. The remarks came as Hezbollah reported new attacks on Israeli forces despite an extended Lebanon ceasefire.
At least eight people have died and 32 others were injured after a freight train collided with a public bus at a railway crossing in Bangkok on Saturday (16 May), triggering a fire that quickly spread through the vehicle.
U.S. President Donald Trump says China's Xi Jinping agreed Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran prepares a new shipping mechanism. Tensions over the U.S. blockade and stalled nuclear talks continue to disrupt global oil supplies.
U.S. President Donald Trump says China's Xi Jinping agreed Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran prepares a new shipping mechanism. Tensions over the U.S. blockade and stalled nuclear talks continue to disrupt global oil supplies.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could destroy Iran’s infrastructure “in two days,” while Tehran warned the U.S. would face growing economic costs from the conflict. The remarks came as Hezbollah reported new attacks on Israeli forces despite an extended Lebanon ceasefire.
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 45-day extension of a ceasefire that has reduced fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The agreement came as two days of Washington-facilitated talks concluded with a decision to hold further meetings in the coming weeks.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Washington shows seriousness. His remarks came as talks on Iran’s nuclear programme continued, with Trump and Xi also opposing Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran loomed over U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China, as signs emerged that the conflict is causing a shift in alliances across the Middle East.
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