Iran’s top diplomat expected to meet with Putin in Russia as US peace talks stall

What we're covering

• Hectic diplomacy: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is headed to Russia and is expected to meet with President Vladimir Putin on Monday to discuss the status of negotiations, according to state media, after visiting with key mediators in Pakistan and Oman this weekend. Araghchi said earlier that it’s not clear if Washington is “truly serious about diplomacy” after US President Donald Trump scrapped plans for his envoys to visit Pakistan.

• Peace talks stalled: Trump said talks will continue by phone after Iran declined to meet directly with American negotiators amid ongoing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz. “If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us,” Trump said Sunday and reiterated that the war would “come to an end very soon.”

• In Lebanon: The fragile ceasefire is under growing pressure as Israel and Hezbollah have increased attacks on each other despite a US-brokered extension to the ceasefire that was supposed to halt fighting for three more weeks.

28 Posts

16 MIN AGO

Iran steps up regional diplomacy as Hormuz stays choked and US talks stall: Catch up on the latest

By Mohammed Tawfeeq

In this photo released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left, meets with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Muscat, Oman, on Sunday, April 26, 2026.

Iranian Foreign Ministry/AP

Iran has intensified its diplomatic efforts as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, with Washington-Tehran talks aimed at ending the war now stalled. In the US, President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his decision to cancel his envoys’ planned trip to Pakistan, saying Iranian authorities “can call” if they want to talk — and reiterating his claim that the war could “come to an end very soon,” adding the US is “going to be very victorious.”

Araghchi leaves Pakistan: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has left Islamabad, and his departure marks the end of two visits to Pakistan in 48 hours, as hopes for further face-to-face US-Iranian talks dissipated. Earlier in the day, Araghchi made a short stop in Muscat, Oman, before returning to Islamabad for another meeting.
Next stop Russia: After visits involving mediators in Pakistan and Oman, Araghchi is heading to Russia, underscoring Moscow’s role as a major diplomatic backer of Tehran during the conflict.
Shipping through Hormuz remains near-standstill: Vessel traffic is still severely reduced compared to pre-war levels, according to MarineTraffic data, with only a handful of crossings reported Sunday. (CNN notes shipping data can be affected by signal gaps and spoofing.)
Trump-Starmer call focuses on reopening sea lanes: Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed the “urgent need” to get shipping moving again through Hormuz, Downing Street said, as thousands of seafarers remain trapped and oil prices have surged. Starmer warned of major global economic and cost-of-living impacts.
Trump’s blockade claim disputed by experts: Trump also claimed Iran’s oil lines could “explode” within three days because exports are blocked; experts told CNN this is overstated, saying producers typically cut output as storage fills rather than face inevitable explosions.
Tehran doubles down on Hormuz pressure: Iran’s Deputy Parliament Speaker Ali Nikzad warned the Strait of Hormuz will “under no circumstances” return to its previous state, Mehr reported, citing an order from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Nikzad said the war showed that choking Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab could affect “25% of the world’s economy.”
Israel-Lebanon fragile ceasefire: The Israeli military ordered evacuations for seven villages in southern Lebanon on Sunday, saying Hezbollah ceasefire violations require action against “terror infrastructure.” The fragile ceasefire in Lebanon is under growing pressure as Israel and Hezbollah have increased attacks on each other. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said that since March 2, at least 2,509 people have been killed and 7,755 wounded.

2 HR 48 MIN AGO

Israeli military says it will examine allegations of looting in southern Lebanon

By Max Saltman

Israeli soldiers walk amid destroyed buildings in Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the Israel-Lebanon border, in northern Israel, on Sunday.

Shir Torem/Reuters

3 HR 28 MIN AGO

Trump's claim that Iran's oil lines will explode within 3 days are overstated, experts say

By Auzinea Bacon

This March 12, 2017 file photos shows the Kharg Island oil terminal, which sits about 25 km off Iran’s coast in the Persian Gulf.

Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images/File

“When you have, you know, lines of vast amounts of oil pouring through your system, if for any reason that line is closed because you can’t continue to put it into containers or ships — which has happened to them; they have no ships because of the blockade — what happens is that line explodes from within, both mechanically and in the earth,” Trump said in a phone interview on Fox News’ “The Sunday Briefing.”

3 HR 56 MIN AGO

Iranian foreign minister has left Pakistan for Russia, state media reports

By Max Saltman and Sophia Saifi

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has left Islamabad and is en route to Russia, according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.

Araghchi will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday and “consult with Russian officials on the latest status of the negotiations, the ceasefire and surrounding developments,” the semi-official Iranian Students’ News Agency reported earlier, citing Iran’s ambassador to Moscow.

The foreign minister’s departure marks the end of two visits to Pakistan in 48 hours, as hopes for further face-to-face US-Iranian talks dissipated.

Soon after IRIB published its report, Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam thanked Pakistani leadership for “their tireless efforts” to end the war.

This post has been updated with additional details.

5 HR 28 MIN AGO

Israeli soldier killed in southern Lebanon, military says, bringing toll to 16

By Oren Liebermann

An Israeli soldier was killed in southern Lebanon on Sunday, according to the Israeli military. It marks the 16th soldier killed in southern Lebanon since the war with Iran began eight weeks ago.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) identified the soldier as Sgt. Idan Fooks, 19.

The IDF said four other soldiers were severely wounded in the incident.

Earlier Sunday, Hezbollah announced it had launched on attack on Israeli forces in the town of Taybeh with a loitering glider and “achieved a confirmed hit.”

5 HR 8 MIN AGO

Israel sent Iron Dome air defense system to UAE during Iran war, source says

By Tal Shalev

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a press conference in Jerusalem on March 19.

Ronen Zvulun/Pool/AFP/Getty Images/File

Iron Dome is an Israeli-developed mobile, short‑range air‑defense system that intercepts rockets, mortars, artillery shells and drones. Israel has previously concluded several arms deals to sell the system abroad, but this appears to be the first time it has been deployed to another country and used operationally. The system intercepted dozens of Iranian missiles during the war, Axios reported citing an Israeli official.

6 HR 10 MIN AGO

Meanwhile: Trump reiterates his assessment that Iran war could end "soon"

By Dalia Abdelwahab

US President Donald Trump elaborated Sunday morning on his decision to cancel his envoys’ planned trip to Pakistan, also saying that Iranian authorities “can call” if they want to talk.

The US delegation was set to be led by White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. CNN previously reported that Vice President JD Vance would have been on standby to travel to Islamabad in the event that the talks progressed.

5 HR 10 MIN AGO

Araghchi calls Arab and European counterparts in diplomatic push

By Ibrahim Dahman and Sana Noor Haq

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi sits down with Senior Omani Diplomat, Najib Bin Yahya Al Balushi and other officials, in Muscat, Oman, in this picture released on Saturday.

Seyed Abbas Araghchi/Telegram/Handout/Reuters

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi churned through phone calls with counterparts in Egypt, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey this weekend – after regional hopes of further US-Iran talks dissipated.

Egypt: Araghchi held a phone call with the Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) said on Sunday. The two talked about “diplomacy, the ceasefire” and “the latest regional developments.
France: France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot “expressed hope that ongoing dialogue would lead to peace in the region” during a call with Araghchi, according to Iran’s semi-official agency, Mehr News. Meanwhile, the Iranian foreign minister emphasized “the importance of European countries playing a constructive role” in a long-lasting ceasefire.
Turkey: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke to Araghchi late Saturday, ISNA reported.
Qatar: In a call with Araghchi, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani reaffirmed his “readiness to continue playing an active role in mediation and facilitating dialogue” to end the war, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported.
Saudi Arabia: Araghchi briefed Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan on “the latest diplomatic efforts and initiatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran aimed at ending the war and reducing tensions,” according to Tasnim News Agency.

6 HR 45 MIN AGO

Why Iran's top diplomat is visiting Russia during his overseas tour

Analysis by Kara Fox and Zahra Ullah

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has visited key mediators in Pakistan and Oman on Sunday, and he is next heading to Russia, highlighting the countries’ long standing partnership.

Russia has remained a critical diplomatic ally for Iran throughout the conflict with the United States. The Kremlin has repeatedly offered to take custody of Iran’s enriched uranium, proposing to store or reprocess it on Russian soil.

While this could theoretically resolve some of the key US demands in negotiations to end its war with Iran, US President Donald Trump reportedly rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer, presumably wanting to stave off Moscow – already a global leader in nuclear energy – from gaining even more leverage.

6 HR 47 MIN AGO

Iran's foreign minister expected to meet Putin

By Sophia Saifi and Billy Stockwell

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to depart for Russia after his brief stop in Pakistan, a source told CNN.

During his trip to Moscow, Araghchi will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday and “consult with Russian officials on the latest status of the negotiations, the ceasefire and surrounding developments,” Iranian semi-official Iranian Students’ News Agency reported, citing Iran’s ambassador to Russia.

In Pakistan, Araghchi is reportedly holding another round of consultations with local officials, IRNA said earlier today. CNN has reached out to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment on the trip.

Correction: An earlier version of this post mistakenly reported that Araghchi had already left for Russia. It has been corrected to reflect that the visit will take place on Monday.

Up next

Live Updates Shooting at White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Search This Blog

Habib Siddiqui