Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin on regional and international issues. The visit followed meetings with Omani officials in Muscat.

"I traveled to Russia with the aim of continuing close consultations between Tehran and Moscow on regional and international issues," Araghchi said. "This meeting will be a good opportunity to discuss developments in the war and review the latest situation."

Washington and Tehran agreed to a temporary ceasefire on April 8, ending a month of fighting that began with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. The truce was mediated by Pakistan and has been strained by disputes over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and a U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. A parallel conflict involving Israel and Lebanon threatens to complicate negotiations.

President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would not enter negotiations while the blockade remained in place. American forces were continuing to implement the blockade, preventing vessels from entering or leaving Iranian waters, with 38 ships directed to turn around or return to port.

Correspondent Tohid Asadi said the Moscow talks reflected Iran's preparation for multiple outcomes. "We have a scenario for diplomatic settlement and another for confrontation," Asadi said. "Russia is going to play a key role when it comes to both, so Iran's FM is there for consultations over most probably both."

Asadi also identified specific issues likely to feature in the discussions. "One is obviously the situation at the Strait of Hormuz, the possibility of the extension of the ceasefire, or another confrontation," he said.

Before traveling to Moscow, Araghchi described discussions in Islamabad as productive and said they included a review of the specific conditions under which negotiations between Iran and the U.S. could continue.

Correspondent Osama Bin Javaid said diplomatic efforts in Pakistan pointed toward a broader arrangement. "We are being told here in Islamabad that we are inching towards a framework of sorts, which will provide a background to which all of these sides can come to an agreement – and not just the Iranians and the Americans, but essentially the Gulf countries as well," Bin Javaid said.