Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Russia on Monday, where he is expected to meet President Vladimir Putin and ask for his support.
The visit follows a visit by Middle East mediators Pakistan and Oman to Araghchi to discuss the escalating conflict in the Middle East, with peace efforts between Tehran and Washington currently on hold.
Russia and Iran are close strategic allies, but Moscow has been cautious about getting involved in recent Middle East conflicts so far as it continues its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Iran pursues regional diplomacy
Araghchi’s visits come against the backdrop of stalled talks with the US, as both sides have rejected many of the other’s demands.
On Saturday, US President Donald Trump canceled the planned visit of his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad, saying talks there would amount to “sitting around without talking.”
The first round of US-Iran talks in Pakistan in mid-April failed to reach an agreement.
Araghchi met the country’s military chief Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Pakistan on Saturday.
He then visited Oman before returning to Islamabad and then left for Russia, where he is scheduled to meet Putin in St. Petersburg.
Araghchi said on X that his talks in Oman focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which runs between Oman and Iran.
The effective closure of the strait amid the conflict has caused massive disruption to global oil and gas supplies.
Efforts continue for US-Iran talks
However, Iran’s Fars news agency said efforts were still underway to create conditions for a second round of US-Iran talks, adding that Tehran had sent “written messages” to Washington through mediator Pakistan.
It said the messages outlined Iran’s red lines, including nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has sent a new proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, US media outlet Axios reported on Sunday, citing a US official and two other sources with knowledge of the matter.
Axios said Tehran wants to postpone nuclear talks to a later stage.
Washington is calling on Tehran to stop enriching uranium, saying it is aimed at making nuclear weapons.
Tehran has said that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.
Edited by: Louis Olofse