Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi is greeted by officials, according to Iran's media, during his visit to Russia for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in St. Petersburg, Russia, in this screenshot from a video released on April 27, 2026. SEYED ABBAS ARAGHCHI VIA TELEGRA / VIA REUTERS
Iran's top diplomat blamed Washington, on Monday, April 27, for the failure of talks, after landing in Russia as part of a whirlwind diplomatic tour, with direct negotiations between the warring parties seemingly at an impasse.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the remarks in Saint Petersburg, where he is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russian and Iranian state media outlets confirmed Araghchi would speak with Putin, citing officials from their respective governments.
Araghchi's visit to Russia followed a trip to Oman sandwiched in between visits to Pakistan, the conflict's main mediator, over the past few days. Islamabad played host to the first and only round of unsuccessful talks between Washington and Tehran, and Araghchi's visit had fanned hopes for fresh negotiations over the weekend, until US President Donald Trump scrapped a planned trip by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. "The US approaches caused the previous round of negotiations, despite progress, to fail to reach its goals because of the excessive demands," Araghchi said on Monday.
