Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged full support to Iran during a meeting in Saint Petersburg on Monday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, vowing to "do everything" to help achieve peace in the Middle East and praising the Iranian people's fight for "independence and sovereignty." Araghchi, who had arrived in Russia on the fourth leg of a diplomatic tour that also included visits to Pakistan and Oman, blamed Washington for the collapse of the first round of peace negotiations, citing "excessive US demands" as the key obstacle, while Iran passed written messages to the Americans via Pakistan outlining its red lines on nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz (a critical waterway through which a significant share of global oil trade passes). US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that Iran appeared "serious" about reaching a deal but insisted any agreement must definitively prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon, as the two sides also clashed at the opening of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference at the United Nations in New York.