Putin says he hopes Middle East situation can "evolve in a positive direction"

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday during a summit of gas-exporting nations, telling him that Middle Eastern countries could address regional problems without Washington. Pezeshkian cited expanding bilateral commerce and said U.S. policies were pushing countries toward wider international cooperation and closer ties with Russia and others facing penalties imposed by Washington alone. Putin said the two had held a private discussion about the region and expressed hope that conditions would take a better course. Their talks occurred amid a Middle East war that, according to the report, began Feb. 28 with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran; Moscow has sought a mediating role, and negotiations between Tehran and Washington remain stalled as the U.S. and Israel have threatened renewed strikes.