'Number of countries ready to supply Iran with their nuclear warheads' says Russia as Iran’s foreign minister heads to Moscow after US strikes

Speaking at a press briefing on the sidelines of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Istanbul, Araghchi said the meeting with Putin was scheduled for Monday morning.

He spoke about the visit to Russia in response to a question by a Russian news outlet, reported The Times of Israel.

The visit comes immediately after the United States struck three Iranian nuclear sites, which Washington said was a “necessary step” to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

"Russia is a friend of Iran, we always consult with each other," Araghchi told reporters. "I'm going to Moscow this afternoon for serious consultations with the Russian president tomorrow morning."

Trump orders strikes; Iran cites UN Charter for response

The strikes, ordered by US President Donald Trump, were carried out late Saturday — nine days into Israel’s aerial campaign aimed at Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

American officials said the strikes were focused on neutralising Iran’s nuclear weapons capability.

Araghchi condemned the attacks as a serious breach of international law, warning that they had crossed a “very big red line” by targeting nuclear installations.

He added that Iran would invoke its right to self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. “We have to respond,” he said.

Russia slams US, says strikes failed

In Moscow, former Russian President and Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev strongly criticised President Trump, accusing him of dragging the US into a new Middle East war. Writing on Telegram, Medvedev said, "Trump, who came in as a peacemaker president, has started a new war for the U.S."

He argued that the operation had not achieved its intended military goals.

“Critical infrastructure of the nuclear fuel cycle appears to have been unaffected or sustained only minor damage,” he wrote. “The enrichment of nuclear material – and now we can say it outright, the future production of nuclear weapons – will continue.”

Medvedev went further, claiming that “a number of countries are ready to directly supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads,” although he did not name the countries.

He added that explosions were rocking multiple areas in Israel, placing the population under continuous threat.

“The US is now entangled in a new conflict, with prospects of a ground operation looming on the horizon,” he warned.

He also suggested that the Iranian government had emerged politically stronger.

“Iran's political regime has survived – and in all likelihood, has come out even stronger. The people are rallying around the country's spiritual leadership, including those who were previously indifferent or opposed to it.”

Tehran rules out resuming diplomacy with US

Responding to questions about returning to diplomatic talks, Araghchi said Tehran had no intention of rejoining negotiations under the current circumstances. “We were in the middle of diplomacy. We were in the middle of talks with the United States when Israelis blew it up,” he said.

He added that negotiations with European counterparts were underway in Geneva just two days before the American airstrikes.

“And again, this time, Americans decided to blow it up,” he said. “So it was not Iran, but the US who betrayed diplomacy. They betrayed negotiations.”

The foreign minister said the Trump administration had shown it was unfit for any future peace initiatives.

“They have proved that they are not men of diplomacy, and they only understand the language of threat and force. And this is very unfortunate,” Araghchi said.