Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Moscow on Thursday, carrying a written message from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking to journalists, Araghchi said the visit is also aimed at consulting with Iran’s “Russian friends.”
Araghchi noted that the meeting comes “concurrent with recent developments and indirect negotiations that have recently taken place.”
He described the Iran-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty as “a very important treaty in the relations between the two countries that will enhance the level of our relations.”
He added that Tehran has always held close consultations with Moscow on the nuclear issue and said the current meeting is “a good opportunity to do the same with Russian officials.”
“Our ties and dialogues with Russia have always been broad and strategic,” he said.
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated that the minister “visits the Russian Federation, our neighbor & strategic partner, to consult on matters of common interest & concern.”
On Wednesday, Araghchi reaffirmed Iran’s firm stance on uranium enrichment. “Tehran’s uranium enrichment is a ‘real’ and ‘non-negotiable’ issue,” he said, emphasizing Iran’s readiness to address concerns while maintaining that the principle of enrichment is not open to negotiation.
He also criticized the U.S. approach to the talks, stating, “We have heard different positions from the American side, some of which are contradictory, and this will in no way contribute to the negotiation process.”
A high-level Iranian delegation led by Araghchi held indirect talks with a U.S. team headed by envoy Steve Witkoff in Oman on Saturday. Prior to the meeting, former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his desire for Iran to “flourish,” while reaffirming Washington’s strong opposition to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran, for its part, reiterated its commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and national interests.
Iran’s state TV reported that the second round of Iran-US nuclear talks will be held next Saturday in Rome, hosted by Oman’s Foreign Ministry, despite earlier Iranian claims the talks would be in Oman.
