MOSCOW (Realist English). Russian President Vladimir Putin held a high-level meeting on Monday with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the Kremlin, reaffirming Moscow’s support for Tehran amid intensifying conflict in the Middle East.
“You are visiting Russia at a very difficult time — a time of sharp escalation in the region and around your country,” Putin said in his opening remarks. He described the Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iranian targets as “completely unprovoked” and “without justification,” and emphasized that Russia’s stance on the crisis has been “clearly articulated by the Foreign Ministry and at the UN Security Council.”
The Russian president noted ongoing diplomatic efforts, including his recent phone conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and said Moscow remains committed to assisting the Iranian people.
Also attending the meeting were Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, presidential aide Yury Ushakov, and deputy chief of the General Staff Igor Kostyukov. The Iranian delegation included Ambassador Kazem Jalali and Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi.
Minister Araghchi thanked the Russian leadership for its firm condemnation of the Israeli and American strikes, calling Moscow “on the right side of history and international law.” He described the current military actions by Tehran as a legitimate defense of Iran’s sovereignty, in response to unlawful acts of aggression.
“Our bilateral relations have grown increasingly strategic in recent years,” Araghchi said. He praised Russia’s role in nuclear cooperation and diplomacy, highlighting ongoing construction at the Bushehr nuclear power plant and Moscow’s role in past negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.
Araghchi also relayed personal greetings from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Pezeshkian, expressing hope that the talks in Moscow would help generate “new paths out of the current situation.”
The Kremlin’s meeting with Araghchi sends a clear signal: Russia is positioning itself as a vocal defender of Iran’s sovereignty while portraying the United States and Israel as destabilizing actors. As the region teeters on the edge of broader conflict, Moscow appears intent on asserting its role not only as Iran’s partner, but also as a counterweight to Western influence in shaping the post-crisis diplomatic landscape.
