SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia – Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Russia on Monday for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin as peace negotiations with the United States stalled.
Okay News reports that the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced the arrival on Telegram following the collapse of planned talks in Islamabad, Pakistan.
United States President Donald Trump canceled a planned trip to Islamabad by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Saturday. Trump told Fox News on Sunday that if Iranian officials wanted talks, “they can come to us, or they can call us.”
The Fars news agency stated that Iran sent written messages to the United States via Pakistan outlining red lines regarding nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards stated on their official Telegram channel, “Controlling the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining the shadow of its deterrent effects over America and the White House’s supporters in the region is the definitive strategy of Islamic Iran.”
In Lebanon, claims of ceasefire violations between Israel and Hezbollah continued following a conflict escalation on March 2. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah was “dismantling the ceasefire” and stated, “This means freedom of action not only to respond to attacks…but also to pre-empt immediate threats and even emerging threats.”
Lebanon’s health ministry stated that Israeli strikes in the south of the country on Sunday killed 14 people, including two women and two children, and wounded 37.
