Statements by Seyed Abbas Araghchi Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran upon arrival in Saint Petersburg

"As you know, we have always had close consultations with Russia and continuous bilateral discussions on a wide range of issues, especially regional matters.

For some time, due to the imposed Ramadan war, there was a gap in meetings. We have taken advantage of this opportunity, and following my trips to Pakistan and Oman, the visit to Russia was also arranged. This opportunity has allowed us to consult with our Russian friends on the developments related to the war during this period and the current situation, and to review the latest status. Naturally, necessary coordination must also take place.

My trips to Pakistan and Oman were bilateral visits. Regarding Pakistan, this country has recently played an important role in mediating the Iran-US negotiations, and it was necessary to discuss the latest developments. In any case, certain developments have occurred in the negotiation process, and the wrong approaches and excessive demands of the US prevented the previous round of talks from achieving its goals, despite progress. Therefore, it was necessary to consult and review the current situation with our friends in Pakistan.

We had good consultations with our friends in Pakistan, and thankfully, it was a very successful visit. We reviewed what has passed and discussed the path and conditions under which negotiations could continue. In any case,, the forty days of heroic resistance by the Iranian people should enable us to secure the rights of the Iranian people and protect the interests of the country.

Oman is a friendly and neighboring country to us, and they have taken very good positions in this war. It was necessary to have a meeting to establish broader relations with our neighbors, especially in the Persian Gulf region, so that we can manage existing challenges.

Iran and Oman are both coastal countries of the Strait of Hormuz, and it was necessary to hold consultations on this matter., Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is an important global issue, and as two countries overlooking this strait, we need to have close coordination to secure mutual interests. In any action taken in this regard, the interests of Iran and Oman are directly involved.

Thankfully, there is a great deal of common ground between us and Oman, and agreements have been reached for consultations to continue at expert levels."