Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to diplomacy while accusing Washington of undermining negotiations through military attacks, telling Russian President Vladimir Putin that Iran would not abandon the negotiating table.

“We are engaged in dialogue; yet, every time we talk to the US, they launch new attacks. Nevertheless, we will not walk away from the negotiating table,” Pezeshkian said during a meeting with Putin on Thursday on the sidelines of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit and the Caspian Sea environmental summit in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan, Press TV reported.

Pezeshkian said both sides had exchanged proposals and that Iran had revised its positions, adding that Tehran intended to work with relevant intermediaries once the proposals were finalized to reach an agreement.

He said Iran’s objective was to end the conflict while ensuring that the rights of the Iranian people were respected under international law. However, he warned that an agreement would not be possible if Washington continued to pursue what he described as a unilateral approach.

The Iranian president praised Moscow’s opposition to unilateralism, thanking Russia for its positions at the United Nations and its efforts to counter what he called the unchecked expansion of unilateral policies.

Pezeshkian called for a shift toward multilateralism, accusing the United States of seeking to impose its policies and views on other countries and asserting its dominance over international affairs.

He also welcomed expanding relations between Tehran and Moscow, highlighting opportunities to strengthen trade, economic cooperation and people-to-people ties. He said accelerating the implementation of previously agreed programmes could produce progress across multiple sectors.

Putin, in turn, said Russia and Iran shared a growing number of strategic programmes and common policy priorities.

The Russian president stressed the need to resolve the regional crisis through diplomacy, saying Moscow would make every effort to help bring the conflict to an end through political channels.

He said Iran had presented new proposals aimed at ending the war and that numerous countries were working to advance a diplomatic resolution.

Putin also conveyed his greetings and best wishes for the health and success of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei.

The meeting took place during Pezeshkian’s first participation as a special guest in the expanded CIS format, alongside his attendance at the Caspian environmental summit.

Both leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation and emphasized the need to accelerate joint projects in energy, agriculture, transportation and trade, with the stated aim of strengthening relations and promoting regional stability. (ILKHA)