Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his readiness to facilitate Middle East peace efforts during a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, following the failure of high-stakes negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
According to the Interfax news agency, Putin emphasized Russia’s willingness to mediate a political and diplomatic settlement to achieve a “just and lasting peace” in the region. The Kremlin confirmed the call on Sunday, shortly after the 21-hour marathon talks in Islamabad concluded without an agreement.
“Vladimir Putin stressed his readiness to further facilitate the search for a political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict and to mediate efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,” the Kremlin stated.
The failure to reach a deal in Pakistan places a fragile ceasefire—which began earlier this week—at risk. Both sides traded blame for the deadlock, with US Vice President JD Vance describing the lack of a deal as “bad news for Iran much more than for the United States of America.”
Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf countered that the US had failed to earn Tehran’s trust despite “forward-looking initiatives” presented by his delegation. “The U.S. has understood Iran’s logic and principles and it’s time for them to decide whether they can earn our trust or not,” Qalibaf posted on X.
While the diplomatic stalemate persists, shipping data revealed that fully loaded oil tankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday—the first vessels to exit the Persian Gulf since the ceasefire agreement began.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated it is now “imperative” to maintain the two-week ceasefire as all parties attempt to de-escalate the conflict that began in late February.