Russian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi blamed the United States on Monday for the failure of talks to end the war during a visit to Russia where President Vladimir Putin assured him of his support.
Attempts to restart discussions on a lasting ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz – initiated over two weeks ago in Pakistan – have so far faltered due to the staunch stance taken by both sides, despite a ceasefire being in place for three weeks.
Triggered by a US and Israeli attack on Iran on February 28, the Middle East war has resulted in thousands of deaths, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, and has shaken the global economy.
“The previous negotiation cycle, despite some progress, did not meet its objectives due to excessive demands from the United States,” denounced Abbas Araghchi upon his arrival in St. Petersburg.
Since the start of the war, “it has become evident that the Islamic Republic is a stable, robust, and powerful system,” he told President Putin, according to Russian state television.
Moscow, one of Tehran’s main supporters, promised to do “everything” to achieve peace as quickly as possible, Putin said, as reported by Russian state media.
He affirmed that Russia intends to “continue its strategic relationship” with Iran, praising the “heroism” of the Iranian people fighting for their independence.
– “Credible Guarantees” –
In Washington, President Donald Trump gathered his top security advisers on Monday to discuss an Iranian proposal, the White House indicated.
According to an article on Axios, the Iranian proposal aims to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, delaying nuclear negotiations to a later date.
Tehran demands “credible guarantees” for its security and stability in the Gulf, as well as “full respect for Iran’s legitimate rights and interests,” said Iran’s Ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani.
He expressed this at a UN Security Council meeting on maritime security where dozens of countries condemned the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called on Iran during the meeting to make “major concessions and a radical change in stance” for a “lasting solution” to the crisis.
Before the war, 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas passed through the strait, which is now subjected to both Iranian and American blockades, severely impacting the global economy.
However, the Iranian parliament is preparing a law to place this strategic strait under the authority of the armed forces.
According to the text, Israeli ships would be banned from passing through, and passage rights would have to be paid in Iranian rials, as reported by the head of the Parliament’s National Security Committee.
“We cannot tolerate the Iranians trying to establish a system in which they decide who can use an international maritime route and how much they have to pay to use it,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Fox News.
