By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged support for de-escalation efforts in the Middle East during a phone call on Sunday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, following the breakdown of talks between Iran and the United States.
According to a Kremlin readout, Putin expressed Russia’s readiness to help facilitate a political and diplomatic resolution to the growing crisis. “Vladimir Putin emphasised his readiness to further facilitate the search for a political and diplomatic settlement to the conflict, and to mediate efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,” the Kremlin said.
The call came shortly after Iran and the US failed to reach an agreement on Sunday aimed at ending hostilities linked to the wider regional conflict. Despite the diplomatic setback, there was no immediate resumption of fighting, and world leaders reportedly urged both sides to continue exploring diplomatic channels.
A US official said the American delegation, including chief negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, left after marathon talks yielded no significant breakthrough. During a stopover at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, an official travelling with Vice President JD Vance confirmed that no members of the team remained behind, contrary to earlier speculation that negotiations might continue.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf blamed Washington for the lack of progress. “My colleagues in the Iranian delegation put forward constructive initiatives, but the other side was unable to gain the trust of the Iranian delegation,” he wrote on X.
Tensions have remained high since February 28, when the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran. Tehran’s retaliatory strikes have since plunged the region into conflict and sent shockwaves through the global economy.
