St. Petersburg/Tehran — Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that Tehran is reviewing an invitation from US President Donald Trump for negotiations, as regional diplomacy intensifies involving Russia, Pakistan, and Gulf states.
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In remarks shared on his Telegram account and reported during a visit to Russia, Araghchi said Trump’s request for talks comes after Washington “failed to achieve its objectives” in earlier rounds of engagement. He added that Iran is assessing the “path and conditions” under which dialogue could continue.
The Iranian foreign minister is currently in Russia as part of a multi-country diplomatic tour that previously included visits to Islamabad and Muscat, aimed at coordinating positions on the ongoing regional crisis and stalled US-Iran contacts.
During his meeting in St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged that Russia would “do what it can” to help stabilize the region and support peaceful solutions.
Putin said Moscow is ready to assist efforts to restore stability in West Asia, while expressing hope that tensions would ease and regional peace would be achieved soon.
Araghchi, for his part, reiterated that Iran and Russia share a “strategic partnership” and will continue strengthening cooperation, particularly on regional security issues. He also said Iran’s population has “resisted US pressure” and will continue to do so.
Senior Russian officials including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and security representatives also attended the talks, underscoring Moscow’s deep involvement in the diplomatic track.
The Iranian delegation said discussions also covered previous mediation efforts involving Pakistan, where officials reportedly played a facilitation role in communication between Tehran and Washington.
According to Iranian statements, earlier negotiations collapsed due to what Tehran described as “excessive demands” from the United States, despite some progress in earlier rounds.
The diplomatic activity comes amid broader regional tensions linked to maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has maintained pressure over transit conditions, affecting global energy flows and raising concerns over oil and gas supplies.
Reports also suggest backchannel communications have continued through regional intermediaries, including Pakistan and Oman, although no formal negotiation framework has been restored.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it is “too early” to consider lifting sanctions on Iran, citing ongoing concerns over regional conduct and domestic policies.
In parallel, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem reiterated that his group will continue resistance against Israel and rejected direct negotiations, adding further complexity to the already volatile regional environment.
Despite ongoing ceasefire claims in parts of the region, military tensions remain high, with continued strikes and retaliatory actions reported in Lebanon and surrounding areas.
For now, diplomatic efforts appear to be expanding across multiple channels, but no breakthrough has been reached in restarting formal US-Iran negotiations.
