Russia will do everything to help achieve peace in the Middle East

JAKARTA - President Vladimir Putin said Russia is ready to make every effort to ensure peace in the Middle East is achieved as soon as possible, when receiving Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday.

During the meeting held in Saint Petersburg, President Putin said he had received a message from Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei last week.

He asked Foreign Minister Araghchi to convey "gratitude for this message and best wishes for his health and well-being."

Furthermore, the Russian leader noted that the Iranian people are fighting "courageously and heroically" for their sovereignty. According to him, Russia hopes that the Iranian people will get through "these difficult times and peace will come."

Moscow is ready to make every effort to ensure that peace in the Middle East "is achieved as soon as possible," President Putin said, as quoted by TASS (27/4).

The Kremlin leader also stressed that Russia "intends to maintain" its strategic relations with Iran.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi, in turn, said that relations between Moscow and Tehran are a strategic partnership and will continue to strengthen.

On this occasion, Foreign Minister Araghchi also thanked Russia and President Putin for their support for the State of the Mullahs.

He said the relationship between Moscow and Tehran represented a "strategic partnership at the highest level" and would continue to develop "regardless of any circumstances."