TEHRAN - Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) Konstantin Kosachev has held a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali.

The senior Russian parliamentarian expressed support for Iran in the face of threats by the West, especially the United States.

"I have met with the Iranian ambassador to Moscow. I clearly and unequivocally expressed support and solidarity with the people of the fraternal country, particularly with regard to the current threats to its sovereignty and security. We stand together," Kosachev wrote on Telegram after the meeting.

This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has refused to give up his threatening rhetoric against Iran. He has threatened to launch military aggression against the Islamic Republic unless Tehran gives in to Washington’s excessive demands. The U.S. is asking Iran to completely shut down its uranium enrichment work and reduce the range of its missiles, demands that Iran has categorically rejected.

Iran and the U.S. held indirect talks in Oman’s capital, Muscat, on February 6.

The negotiations revolved around Iran’s nuclear program and the possibility of a new agreement that would curb certain nuclear activities in exchange for the termination of sanctions. The talks were mediated by Oman’s foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi, who acted as a go-between for the two sides.

Speaking to reporters after exchanging messages with U.S. officials during two separate three-hour sessions, Araghchi said the sides had traded views following a prolonged pause and thanked Oman for its role in hosting and mediating the talks.

“All issues that needed to be raised were conveyed in a positive atmosphere, and the perspectives of the other side were heard,” he said. 

Araghchi described the talks as a “good beginning,” but cautioned that any continuation would depend on decisions taken in Tehran and Washington in the coming days.

Iran has announced, time and again, that it will not capitulate to pressure, coercion and threats, and would counter any act of aggression. At the same time, Tehran has stated that it would prefer to settle issues through diplomacy and negotiations rather than confrontation.