Russian leader Vladimir Putin has come across newly elected Iranian President Hassan Rowhani for the first time in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The meeting is being held as the Iran continues supporting Russia in the Ukraine crisis and tensions rising in the Middle East.
The relations between Moscow and Tehran have been deepening after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. In a $1.7 billion deal, Iran has been supplying drones to Russia and short-range ballistic missiles have been reported to be part of the deal.
This meeting was held during an intergovernmental conference where other members of the region together with Presidents of Pakistan and Central Asia states. While talking, Putin stated his intention of the formation of the new world order that would be loyal to Moscow’s interests, in particular, in opposition to the West. He also underscored the consistent stance both Russia and Iran hold to major issues of international relations.
Pezeshkian also supported such a statement, noting that the two countries have the similar vision. He said that we have the same principles and positions on the international level, it is crucial to support one another in today’s world.
Some of the topics that were covered included the ongoing Isreal – Iran mid-east conflict. Pezeshkian criticized the actions of the Israeli military in Lebanon, saying they are barbaric and cannot be described, as the Israeli troops keep targeting Hezbollah militants supported by Iran.
While both Russia and Iran have been accused of organizing acts of assassination and sabotage in the foreign countries. As conflicts increase in the Middle East, UK’s domestic intelligence service MI5 says it has prevented at least 20 attempts by Iran to assassinate targets on British soil since 2022. Global operations of Iran and Russia have raised concern over more unrest in Europe and other parts of the world.
This meeting of Putin and Pezeshkian shows that Russia and Iran are moving closer to form an axis against the western powers and enhance military/political cooperation while the world watches.
