Iranian President to Meet Putin in Moscow

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week, Iranian media reported.

Pezeshkian is scheduled to travel to Russia to attend a summit of gas-exporting countries on Tuesday, October 27.

The meeting between the two leaders is expected to focus on economic cooperation and geopolitical issues, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, which cited Tehran’s ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali.

“The Iranian president will visit Moscow to attend the summit of gas-exporting countries that will take place on Tuesday, October 27,” the Tasnim news agency reported. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also indicated on Friday that talks between Tehran and Moscow would take place next week, with both presidents expected to participate.

Russia and Iran have strengthened their ties in recent years, particularly since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Iran this week, marking his first visit to the country since the Middle East war began. 

Araghchi described cooperation between the two countries as closer than ever.

Putin said in early October that Russia was ready to participate in mediation efforts to end the conflict that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February.

Talks between Washington and Tehran have remained stalled for months, while the United States and Israel have threatened to resume strikes against Iran.