Abbas Araghchi flies to Moscow
- Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Islamabad on Sunday for Moscow, where Russian officials said he is due to meet President Vladimir Putin on Monday. - Araghchi shuttled between Pakistan, Oman and back to Islamabad before departing, after expected U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan failed to materialize and Islamabad eased lockdown measures. - The trip extends Tehran’s push for outside mediation as stalled U.S. contacts and war-related pressure raise Russia’s diplomatic role. (aljazeera.com)
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Islamabad for Moscow on Sunday after a weekend of shuttle diplomacy tied to stalled contacts with the United States. (aljazeera.com) (aa.com.tr) Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Araghchi is expected in Moscow on Monday for talks with President Vladimir Putin, according to Russian state media cited by multiple outlets. (yahoo.com) (aa.com.tr) The trip followed a circuit through Islamabad, Muscat and back to Islamabad. Pakistani and regional mediators had tried to keep open a channel for renewed U.S.-Iran talks. (aljazeera.com) (aa.com.tr) Araghchi met Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar during the visit, according to reporting from Islamabad. (yahoo.com) (aljazeera.com) The expected U.S.-Iran discussions in Pakistan did not happen. Pakistan later lifted security restrictions in Islamabad’s Red Zone after the anticipated meeting failed to take shape. (aljazeera.com) (hindustantimes.com) Russian envoy Mikhail Ulyanov said on April 22 that the U.S.-Iran process was poorly coordinated and driven by contradictory American statements, in comments carried by RIA Novosti. (ria.ru) Iran had already signaled that Russia was part of its diplomatic track. Iranian and Russian officials were in contact in March, and Tehran announced Araghchi’s Pakistan-Oman-Russia tour on April 24. (aa.com.tr 1) (aa.com.tr 2) Al Jazeera reported on Monday that Araghchi’s Russia stop also includes St. Petersburg, as Tehran tries to widen diplomatic support while fighting and pressure from Washington continue. (aljazeera.com) For now, the immediate next step is the Moscow meeting. After a weekend spent moving between three capitals, Araghchi is taking Iran’s case directly to Putin. (aljazeera.com) (yahoo.com)
