People of Iran are fighting bravely and heroically for their sovereignty: Putin tells Araghchi

The people of Iran are fighting bravely and heroically for their sovereignty, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during their meeting on Monday.

Putin met the visiting Iranian foreign minister in St. Petersburg.

He hailed the Iranian people for “bravely and heroically” fighting to preserve their national sovereignty and expressed hope that they would overcome these difficult times and peace would return to their country.

Putin added that Russia will take every necessary step to ensure the interests of Iran and other regional countries and to help restore peace in the region as soon as possible.

The Russian president noted that he received a written message from the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, last week.

He once again offered condolences over the martyrdom of the leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, senior military commanders, Iranian officials, and civilians in US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

Putin said that Russia was determined to strengthen bilateral relations with Iran in all areas of interest in line with the long-term strategic partnership agreement between Tehran and Moscow.

The Iranian foreign minister, who is in St. Petersburg on the last leg of his regional tour, commended Russia’s constant support for Iran, particularly during the unprovoked war of aggression launched by the United States and the Israeli regime.

“Relations between Russia and Iran, which represent a strategic partnership, will be strengthened,” Araghchi said.

“With their courage, the Iranian people succeeded in resisting the US aggression and will be able to endure it,” he added.

The top diplomat said that the world witnessed Iran’s strength in countering the United States during the recent war and that the Islamic Republic is a “stable and powerful establishment.”

It became clear that Iran has “great friends and allies” like Russia, and thanked the Russian president for his support for Tehran, he added.

Araghchi slammed the silence of some countries in the face of US violations and bullying, warning that such a double-standard approach will impact the entire international community.

Pointing to the Pakistani mediation efforts, the foreign minister said the United States’s unreasonable demands, shifting positions, threatening rhetoric, and frequent breaches of its commitments have hindered progress in diplomacy.

“The Islamic Republic will make a decision about the diplomatic process considering its past experience, especially two military assaults against Iran in the midst of diplomatic talks, attacks on its peaceful nuclear facilities, the US addition to sanctions and economic pressure, and its continued maritime piracy against Iranian merchant ships,” he added.

The top Iranian diplomat also conveyed Ayatollah Khamenei’s warm greetings to the Russian president.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who was present at the meeting, later described the meeting as “useful.”

Iran’s Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali said on Sunday that the two countries share a common approach to regional and international issues.

He added that Araghchi’s visit to Moscow would take place as part of “close consultations” between the two countries.

Tensions have been running high in the region following the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran, which was launched on February 28 with the assassination of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and several top military commanders.

Iran’s Armed Forces responded with 100 waves of retaliatory strikes under Operation True Promise 4, launching ballistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as drones, against American military bases across West Asia and Israeli positions throughout the occupied territories.

On April 8, forty days into the war, a Pakistan-brokered temporary ceasefire took effect. Talks ensued in Islamabad but failed to produce an agreement.