Putin Says He Has Invited Iran's President To Visit Russia

Amid nuclear talks with Iran, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he hopes his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi will visit Moscow in early 2022.

Putin was speaking to reporters on Wednesday after talks in Sochi with visiting Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Putin said that he discussed Iran with Mitsotakis and “I hope Iran’s president will accept my invitation” and visit Russia early next year.

President Joe Biden discussed Iran nuclear negotiations with Putin on Tuesday when they held a two-hour teleconference on tensions surrounding Russian troop concentrations on the border with Ukraine.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan later told a briefing that the two presidents has “good discussion on Iran”, and announced that both oppose a nuclear Iran.

Talks in Vienna are set to resume on Thursday, but there is little certainty about a breakthrough. Russia, a diplomatic ally of Iran, is a participant in the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, JCPOA, and takes part in the Vienna negotiations.