Iranian president urges return to truce, hails Russian support

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged for a return to the June truce deal during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Pezeshkian warned that a US policy of pressure and threats could jeopardize diplomatic efforts, while thanking Putin for Russia's stance on the conflict.

The two leaders expressed admiration for each other's resilience in the face of international sanctions and highlighted the deepening military and trade ties between their countries, which are both heavily sanctioned. The SCO summit, attended by several world leaders, took place amid the ongoing war between Iran and the United States, which resumed in late February.

Despite the conflict, Iran and the US have continued to exchange fire, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a key point of contention. Pezeshkian stressed that a return to the truce deal would prompt Iran to take reciprocal actions, while Putin emphasized the importance of the SCO as a key component of a multipolar world alongside the United Nations.