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Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, on Sunday held a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, offering Russia’s support in resolving the escalating Middle East crisis following the collapse of talks between Iran and the United States.
According to the Kremlin, Putin expressed readiness to assist diplomatic efforts to reach a settlement.
“Vladimir Putin emphasised his readiness to further facilitate the search for a political and diplomatic settlement to the conflict and to mediate efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,” the Kremlin said in its readout of the call, as reported by AFP.
The conversation came after negotiations between Iran and the United States ended without an agreement on Sunday, despite attempts to halt hostilities linked to the broader Middle East conflict. There was, however, no immediate return to fighting.
Global leaders have reportedly urged both sides to continue exploring diplomatic options.
A US official said the delegation, which included chief negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, departed after lengthy discussions failed to yield a breakthrough.
During a stopover at Ramstein Air Base, an official travelling with Vice President JD Vance confirmed that no members of the team remained behind, despite earlier speculation that talks might continue.
Meanwhile, Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, criticised Washington for failing to build trust during the negotiations.
“My colleagues in the Iranian delegation put forward constructive initiatives, but the other side was unable to gain the trust of the Iranian delegation,” he said in a post on X.
The crisis follows military strikes launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on 28 February, which triggered retaliatory actions from Tehran and intensified tensions across the Middle East, with wider implications for the global economy.
