Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has commended the courage and resilience of the Iranian people during recent discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. This was revealed by Tehran's ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, during his remarks on Saturday evening.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Jalali recounted a meeting between President Putin and Araghchi in St. Petersburg earlier in the week. During the meeting, President Putin expressed his admiration for the Iranian people's bravery, stating, "You said little about the resistance of your people; the Iranian people showed great courage and bravery in this war." Jalali further mentioned that Putin noted, "I speak with leaders of many other countries; all of them admire the Iranian people."

Jalali also highlighted the ongoing hostility from the United States and Israel towards Iran, emphasizing that the issue extends beyond merely opposing the Islamic Republic. "The problem of the aggressors is not only with the Islamic Republic of Iran, but their main issue is with Iran itself," Jalali remarked, attributing this to Iran's "greatness, resistance, and civilization-building."

The context of these remarks includes the United States and Israel launching an unprovoked war against Iran on February 28. The conflict involved the assassination of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several senior commanders during indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington over Iran's nuclear program. On the same day, a school in Minab, southern Iran, was bombarded, resulting in the deaths of 168 people, including schoolgirls.

Jalali concluded by noting Iran's progress despite 47 years of sanctions. He pointed out the significant advancement in Iran's military capabilities since the eight-year war imposed by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in the 1980s, which has now led to Western officials expressing uncertainty over Iran's missile range and stockpiles.