Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi meets Putin in Moscow days after US strikes

The foreign minister arrived late on Sunday to hold talks with Putin and senior Russian officials and discuss the development of the situation in the Middle East and in the world after the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, reported Sputnik.

Araghchi arrived in Moscow on Sunday.

Tehran is grateful to Moscow for condemning actions of Israel, US against Iran, Araghchi told Putin, reported Sputnik.

The Israel Defense Forces on Monday claimed several Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) soldiers were killed during its latest round of attacks conducted on Tehran, amid an escalation in tensions in the Middle East.

Sharing details about the targets of the latest strikes, Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz said the infamous Evin prison, the prison that kept Western detainees, was struck.

“The IDF is currently striking with unprecedented force regime targets and governmental repression bodies in the heart of Tehran, including the Basij headquarters, the Evin Prison for political prisoners and regime opponents, the ‘Destruction of Israel’ clock in Palestine Square, the internal security headquarters of the Revolutionary Guards, the ideology headquarters, and other regime targets,” Katz says in statement as quoted by The Times of Israel.

Trump Claims 'Monumental Damage' To Iranian Nuclear Sites

US President Donald Trump has claimed "monumental damage" was caused to the Iranian nuclear sites by Washington's overnight strikes on Tehran, media reports said. However, some independent experts analyzing commercial satellite imagery have been quoted by NPR saying the nation's long-running nuclear enterprise is far from destroyed.

In a post on Truth Social, the President claimed, "Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images. Obliteration is an accurate term!

"The white structure shown is deeply embedded into the rock, with even its roof well below ground level, and completely shielded from flame. The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!"

Trump on Saturday announced bombing Iran's three nuclear sites and said that with this operation, there would either be peace or more tragedy for Tehran.

The sites are Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.

Iran-Israel Conflict

The conflict started a week ago when Israel launched airstrikes against Iranian nuclear and military sites, primarily targeting uranium enrichment facilities to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Iran and Israel have been trading missiles and drones at each other since the conflict between the two Middle Eastern countries began recently.

The war began when the Israeli military launched "Operation Rising Lion" and attacked Iranian cities, saying it had concluded Tehran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon.