Russia’s Putin meets Iran’s Pezeshkian amid spiralling Middle East violence

As concerns grow about the growing attacks between Israel and Iran and its network of aligned armed groups, Russian President Vladimir Putin has met Iran’s new leader.

On Friday, Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke about the Middle East with regional leaders in Turkmenistan, according to Russian state media.

Before their two nations are scheduled to sign a strategic partnership agreement, they interacted.

Pezeshkian said on Friday that he hoped the agreement could be finalised at the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit, which Putin invited him to, in Russia on October 22-24.

During their meeting, Putin told Pezeshkian that Moscow’s and Tehran’s positions on international affairs were often “very close”, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

We prioritize our interactions with Iran. They are developing very successfully”, Putin said.

Our communications are being strengthened day by day and becoming more robust, according to Pezeshkian, who was quoted by the Iranian news agency IRNA as saying this.

Pezeshkian also spoke about Israel’s “savage attacks” in Lebanon, adding that Israel should “stop killing innocent people” in the region and accused the United States and Europe of backing its actions.

As the country fights the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, which is affiliated with Tehran, the Israeli military has deployed ground troops into southern Lebanon.

In addition, Israel has previously been accused of attacking people’s homes in Lebanon and Gaza.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Iran’s relations have significantly improved. Iran is accused of providing Russia with weapons to use in Ukraine. Tehran has denied that claim.

As the conference opened on Friday, Putin said he wanted to create a “new world order” for Moscow’s allies to counter the West.

He stated that Moscow was willing to discuss the emerging multipolar world in various forums, including the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the BRICS, and that it would support “the broadest possible international discussion.”