Putin meets Iranian FM on Mideast tensions

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Monday to discuss bilateral cooperation and the situation in the Middle East.

During the talks, Putin said Moscow intends to continue developing strategic relations with Iran, is willing to make efforts to help secure peace in the Middle East at an early date, and hopes that the Iranian people will pass through the current period of trials and that peace will come, Russian state media RIA Novosti reported. Putin also said he has received a message from Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.