Sri Lanka, April 27 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin told Iran's top diplomat that Moscow would do everything it could to help secure peace in the Middle East during a meeting in Saint Petersburg on Monday.

"For our part, we will do everything that serves your interests, the interests of all the people of the region, so that peace can be achieved as soon as possible," Russian state media quoted Putin as telling Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Araghchi "thanked Putin and Russia for support," Interfax (IFX) reported.

He also said that "relations between Russia and Iran constitute strategic partnership and will continue to strengthen," as cited by RIA Novosti.

Vladimir Putin, for his part, said Russia "will do everything that ...