CIS Leaders Meet in Turkmenistan Amid Middle East Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged Moscow’s support for efforts to end the war in the Middle East, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says negotiations with the United States must take place without pressure or threats.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of a summit of Commonwealth of Independent States leaders in Turkmenistan on Friday.

Pezeshkian said negotiations must be based on mutual respect and commitments, warning that talks conducted under pressure amount to coercion.

The statements come amid a stalemate in the conflict, which began in late February with US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

Recent indirect talks between Washington and Tehran have failed to produce a breakthrough, with efforts to reach a lasting settlement making little progress.