Russian President Vladimir Putin told Iran's top diplomat that Moscow would do everything it could to help secure peace in the Middle East during a meeting in Saint Petersburg on Monday.
"For our part, we will do everything that serves your interests, the interests of all the people of the region, so that peace can be achieved as soon as possible," Russian state media quoted Putin as telling Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Speaking at the Presidential Library in the Russian city, Putin said he had received a message last week from Iran's leadership and reaffirmed that Russia and Iran would continue their strategic partnership, according to the Interfax news agency.
Araghchi said ties between Tehran and Moscow were at their highest level and would continue to strengthen. He thanked Russia for its support, according to a Russian translation. He blamed Washington for the failure of Middle East peace talks.
"The U.S. approaches caused the previous round of negotiations, despite progress, to fail to reach its goals because of the excessive demands," Araghchi said Monday.
Putin also expressed hope for a swift peace in the region.
"We see how bravely and heroically the Iranian people are fighting for their independence and sovereignty," he said.
"We will do everything that serves their interests and the interests of all peoples in the region so that peace can be achieved as soon as possible," he added.
He praised the Iranian people for battling to stay independent in the face of U.S. and Israeli pressure.
"We see how courageously and heroically the Iranian people are fighting for their independence and sovereignty," Putin told Araghchi, saying he hoped they could get through what he called a "difficult period" and that peace would prevail.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said separately that a return to full-scale hostilities would be in neither Tehran's interest nor that of the global economy, adding that Russia stood ready to mediate in the conflict.
Earlier, Araghchi had visited Islamabad to pass on Tehran's conditions for ending the war to the United States via Pakistani mediators. There are currently no direct negotiations between the two sides.
Russia is considered an ally of Iran, but has not openly provided military support. Moscow has recently reiterated its offer to take custody of Iran's enriched uranium, while a key U.S. demand remains that Tehran abandon any pursuit of nuclear weapons.
It remains unclear when, and even if, there will be a new round of negotiations between Iran and the U.S. in Pakistan.
