In a significant meeting held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran’s newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian met for the first time. The meeting took place amidst growing global concern over Iran’s provision of weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine, as well as escalating conflicts in the Middle East.
On the sidelines of an international forum attended by several regional leaders, including Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and heads of Central Asian nations like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, Putin and Pezeshkian discussed ongoing clashes between Israel, Iran, and its militant allies. According to Russian state news agency Tass, Putin highlighted the strong alignment of Moscow and Tehran’s positions on global matters.
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During their conversation, Putin expressed a desire to establish a “new world order” by uniting Moscow’s allies to counter Western influence. Pezeshkian echoed Putin’s sentiments, emphasizing the shared principles and international goals between Russia and Iran. He also condemned Israel’s military actions in Lebanon as “savage” and “indescribable.”
The backdrop of the meeting included Russia and Iran’s growing military cooperation, with Iran having signed a $1.7 billion deal to supply drones to Russia since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Reports also suggest that Iran may have transferred short-range ballistic missiles to Moscow, further deepening the partnership.
Meanwhile, the situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate, with Israeli forces conducting airstrikes and ground operations in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group.
