Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday said "excessive demands" from the United States have led to the collapse of peace negotiations in Pakistan.
Araghchi made the remarks after arriving in Russia's St. Petersburg for a scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Iranian foreign minister is currently on the final leg of his regional tour. He began his trip to Islamabad, Pakistan on Friday, and arrived in Muscat, Oman on Saturday. After holding talks with senior Omani officials on Sunday, he returned to Islamabad for a second visit within around 24 hours.
Araghchi said that his visits to Pakistan went well, as the two sides conducted good consultations, reviewed the situation and discussed the conditions under which negotiations between Iran and the U.S. could continue.
"Pakistan has played an important mediating role in the negotiations between Iran and the United States, and it was necessary to review the latest developments. In any case, there have been developments in the negotiation process, but the approaches adopted by the U.S. have led to the failure of the previous round of the talks despite some progress. The U.S. excessive demands and incorrect approaches are the main reasons of the failure. So it is necessary for Iran to consult with our friend Pakistan to review the latest situation. This visit is productive," said Araghchi. Araghchi said the discussions he had with Omani officials earlier in Muscat included ways to ensure safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, adding that the two countries have agreed to continue consultations at the expert level.
"Iran and Oman are two coastal states along the Strait of Hormuz. It is natural for us to consult with each other in this regard," said the Iranian foreign minister.
During his stay in Russia, Araghchi will meet with President Putin and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
Iran's FM slams US for failed Pakistan talks
