Iran FM to meet Putin in Moscow, blames US for derailing nuclear talks

Iranian Foreign Minister is set to visit Moscow on Sunday for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, following US air strikes that Tehran says have shattered diplomatic efforts over its nuclear programme.

The trip comes after US President Donald Trump declared that the strikes had “totally obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear facilities. The attacks marked Washington’s first major military action against Iran and drew swift condemnation from Tehran, which accused the US of “blowing up” ongoing negotiations for a potential deal.

In retaliation, Iran launched two rounds of attacks against Israel, its long-time regional rival, just hours after Trump issued a warning of further US military action unless Iran agreed to peace.

Trump’s intervention – despite his past pledges to avoid another “forever war” – threatens to dramatically widen the conflict, after Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign on Iran last week, with Tehran vowing to retaliate if Washington joined in.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States of sabotaging diplomacy after talks with European powers.

“This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy,” he wrote on X.

Aragchi later told reporters in Istanbul the United States and Israel had “crossed a very big red line”, asserting Iran would continue to defend itself “by all means necessary”.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the US strikes, saying Trump’s decision to “target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history”.

In response to the US attack, Iran’s armed forces said they targeted multiple sites in Israel including Ben Gurion airport, the country’s main international gateway near Tel Aviv.