Speaking in an interview published by the Kremlin, Putin said Moscow anticipated the return of US officials who had previously held multiple rounds of talks in the Russian capital.

“We expect that after all the events are over, after the active phase on the Iranian track has passed, we will see the arrival of those representatives of the US administration with whom we have already met in Moscow repeatedly,” Putin said.

“We are ready to continue negotiations and discuss all the details,” he added.

Putin made the remarks while responding to a question on the state of Russia-US relations following the Group of Seven summit in France, where US President Donald Trump urged Moscow to “make a deal with Ukraine.”

The comments suggest that the Kremlin believes Washington’s diplomatic focus on the Middle East has temporarily delayed broader engagement with Russia, including discussions on the war in Ukraine and other bilateral issues.

Trump has recently adopted a more optimistic tone regarding Ukraine’s military position. On Wednesday, he said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was performing well in the conflict, despite previously arguing that Kyiv lacked the necessary leverage to secure victory against Russia.

No timetable was provided for the proposed negotiations, and neither Moscow nor Washington announced the agenda or composition of any future delegation.

Russia and the United States have maintained intermittent diplomatic contacts despite the continuing conflict in Ukraine, with both sides periodically indicating willingness to pursue dialogue on issues of mutual interest while fundamental disagreements remain unresolved.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Naqvi’s visit forms part of Pakistan’s continuing engagement on issues related to the dialogue between Tehran and Washington, the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) reported.

The meeting comes amid heightened regional diplomatic activity as governments across the Middle East seek to support channels of communication between Iran and the United States following months of tensions and negotiations over key security and political issues.

Neither Iranian nor Pakistani officials immediately disclosed the detailed agenda for the talks. However, Baghaei indicated that the visit is connected to Islamabad’s efforts surrounding the ongoing discussions involving Tehran and Washington.

Pakistan has maintained relations with both Iran and the United States and has periodically sought to facilitate diplomatic engagement during periods of regional uncertainty. The country shares a lengthy border with Iran and has frequently emphasized dialogue and regional stability as central elements of its foreign policy.

The planned discussions between Naqvi and Araqchi follow previous high-level contacts between officials from the two neighboring countries and underscore continued coordination on regional developments.

No further details were immediately available regarding the duration of Naqvi’s visit or whether additional meetings with Iranian officials were scheduled.

Speaking during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, the pontiff praised the agreement reached earlier this week between Washington and Tehran and expressed gratitude to those involved in the negotiations.

“I hope that this agreement will contribute to strengthening mutual trust, security, and stability in the Middle East by promoting paths of dialogue and cooperation between peoples,” Leo said.

The remarks marked one of the pope’s most direct endorsements of a major diplomatic breakthrough since taking office. His comments underscored the Vatican’s longstanding support for negotiated solutions to international conflicts and efforts aimed at reducing regional tensions.

Leo, 70, framed the accord as evidence that sustained engagement between adversaries can yield tangible results, emphasizing dialogue as a tool for advancing peace and stability.

Turning to the war in Ukraine, the pope said he continued to receive “painful” news from the conflict and appealed for renewed diplomatic initiatives capable of producing a just and enduring settlement.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, now in its fifth year, remains Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two and has resulted in widespread destruction, heavy casualties, and extensive damage to civilian infrastructure.

“So many innocent victims, rescuers killed, churches and cultural heritage sites devastated by flames,” Leo said during the audience.

The pontiff also expressed solidarity with those affected by the conflict, including families mourning lost relatives, those injured in attacks, and humanitarian workers operating in dangerous conditions.

“I am close to those mourning their loved ones, to the injured, and to those who, amidst the violence, continue to serve life with courage,” he said.

The Vatican has consistently advocated diplomatic engagement in both Middle Eastern and European conflicts, with Leo’s latest remarks reinforcing the Holy See’s emphasis on dialogue, negotiation, and international cooperation as pathways to peace.

Speaking to a delegation of Maronite bishops from the Lebanese diaspora, Aoun said Beirut had received assurances that developments surrounding the U.S.-Iran agreement would not dictate the course of negotiations involving Lebanon.

“We are certainly in favor of a ceasefire and welcome the efforts of any country that helps achieve it, including Iran,” Aoun said, according to remarks released by the Lebanese Presidency.

His comments came amid heightened regional diplomacy following the announcement of an interim agreement between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending months of conflict and creating a framework for broader negotiations.

Aoun emphasized that Lebanon’s leadership retains full authority over any discussions affecting the country and rejected suggestions that external actors could negotiate on its behalf.

“The negotiation is being conducted by the Lebanese state, which is sovereign in its decisions, and no one takes its place,” he said.

The president added that any future settlement involving Lebanon would be reached through the country’s legitimate institutions and would not come at the expense of Lebanese national interests.

His remarks appear intended to reassure domestic audiences amid growing speculation that regional diplomatic arrangements could influence parallel discussions concerning hostilities along the Lebanon-Israel border.

The issue has gained urgency as international efforts intensify to secure a broader regional de-escalation. Earlier on Wednesday, leaders of the Group of Seven nations called for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon while welcoming the U.S.-Iran agreement and supporting further negotiations aimed at reducing tensions across the Middle East.

Lebanon has remained a central focus of diplomatic efforts following months of conflict involving Israel and Hezbollah, with international mediators seeking pathways toward a durable ceasefire and broader regional stability.

Aoun’s statement underscores Beirut’s position that while it welcomes external assistance and diplomatic support, decisions regarding negotiations and potential settlements remain exclusively within the authority of the Lebanese state.

The meeting followed a summit in London earlier this week attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of Britain, France and Germany. During the gathering, the three European countries expressed support for Kyiv’s proposal for direct talks with Moscow aimed at ending more than four years of conflict.

French Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere described the discussions at Russia’s Foreign Ministry as constructive and told reporters that a joint statement would be released later in the day.

Russia, however, characterized the talks differently, saying the ambassadors were informed of what Moscow described as the “destructive” Ukraine policies of their governments. The Russian Foreign Ministry accused Britain, France and Germany of seeking to prolong the conflict at Europe’s expense.

The diplomatic contact comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected a proposal by Zelensky this month for a face-to-face meeting intended to advance peace negotiations.

At the London summit, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz endorsed Zelensky’s initiative and said the current battlefield positions should serve as a starting point for future negotiations.

Western European diplomats have had limited direct engagement with Russian authorities since Moscow launched its full-scale offensive against Ukraine. Contacts have largely been confined to formal summonses and diplomatic exchanges through established channels.

The meeting also reflects growing discussion within parts of Europe about whether renewed dialogue with Moscow could help create conditions for ending the conflict, which remains Europe’s largest war since World War Two.

Efforts led by the United States to broker a settlement have so far failed to produce a breakthrough. Diplomatic attention has also been increasingly diverted by the conflict involving Iran, complicating international attempts to advance negotiations on Ukraine.

Russia has generally preferred discussing the war with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and has repeatedly signaled opposition to a larger European role in any future settlement process.

Britain, France and Germany remain among Ukraine’s principal military, financial and diplomatic supporters and have consistently backed Kyiv throughout the conflict.

In an interview with CNN, Aoun said Lebanon was being used as a bargaining chip in Iran’s negotiations with the United States and described such involvement as unacceptable.

Aoun also called on Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group and political movement, to accept diplomacy as the only viable path to resolving its conflict with Israel.

“Hezbollah must understand that there is no other way but to sit and talk,” Aoun said, adding that negotiation was the only means of preserving what remains of the country after years of instability and conflict.

The president’s remarks reflect growing pressure on Hezbollah following months of fighting and come as Aoun continues to advocate for the group’s peaceful disarmament, a position he has maintained since taking office last year.

The comments also underscore widening political divisions in Lebanon, where debates over Hezbollah’s military role and Iran’s influence remain central issues.

On Thursday, Hezbollah rejected a U.S.-mediated ceasefire proposal that had been discussed by Lebanese and Israeli officials. The plan reportedly called for a halt in hostilities and the withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters from southern Lebanon.

Iran has linked a ceasefire in Lebanon to broader negotiations with Washington over the regional conflict that began after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the idea was unrealistic, responding to Trump’s recent remarks that the two leaders could meet in the future depending on how events unfold.

“I think we should be realistic and think and live in the real world,” Araghchi told Lebanon-based Al Mayadeen television.

Trump told the New York Post on Wednesday that he would like to meet Khamenei and suggested such a meeting could eventually take place.

Mojtaba Khamenei became Iran’s supreme leader in March following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, in U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28.

Araghchi said the new supreme leader remains fully engaged in state affairs despite not appearing publicly since his appointment. He attributed the absence to security concerns linked to the conflict that erupted earlier this year.

Iran and the United States have held both direct and mediated talks since a ceasefire took effect on April 8, but negotiations have yet to produce a lasting settlement to the conflict.

In an interview published Wednesday, Trump said Iran had already agreed not to pursue a nuclear weapon and suggested Khamenei was directly involved in discussions with the United States.

“I would like to meet him, and we probably will meet at some point, depending on how it all works out,” Trump said.

The comments come as the United States and Iran seek to build on a fragile ceasefire following weeks of regional tensions and military exchanges.

Trump also acknowledged a tense conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the conflict in Lebanon, saying he was “a little bit perturbed” by Israel’s continued military actions there.

Despite the disagreement, Trump said he maintained a strong relationship with Netanyahu and emphasized that the two leaders continue to get along well.

The remarks highlight Washington’s efforts to advance diplomacy with Iran while simultaneously pressing for de-escalation in ongoing regional conflicts involving Israel and Hezbollah.

The two-day meeting at the U.S. State Department brings together Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, Lebanese envoy Nada Hamadeh Moawad and senior U.S. diplomat Daniel Holler. No statements were made as the talks began.

The discussions follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that both sides had agreed to de-escalate, though fighting has continued along the Israel-Lebanon border.

Israel said it would keep targeting Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs if attacks on northern Israeli communities persist.

The talks come amid a sharp escalation in hostilities, with Israeli forces conducting their deepest incursion into Lebanon in years. Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes near a hospital in Tyre on Monday killed four people and wounded 127 others.

The escalation follows Israel’s capture of the strategic Beaufort Castle position, raising concerns that military gains on the ground could strengthen its negotiating position.

Lebanese officials said Beirut had rejected Israeli calls for the Lebanese army to immediately disarm Hezbollah, warning such a move could trigger internal instability.

Lebanese military sources said control of Beaufort Castle could give Israeli forces greater surveillance and operational reach across parts of southern Lebanon.

The United Nations Security Council is expected to discuss the situation at an emergency meeting requested by France.