Putin highlights strong ties with Iran amid growing regional tensions

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized a "very close" alignment of views with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, fueling concerns of a broader conflict in the region.

"We are actively working together in the international arena, and our assessments of events taking place in the world are often very close," Putin said during a meeting with Pezeshkian on the sidelines of an international conference in Turkmenistan, as reported by Russia’s state news agency TASS.

"Economically and culturally, our communications are being strengthened day by day and becoming more robust," Pezeshkian was cited as telling Putin by Iran's official IRNA news agency.

"The growing trend of cooperation between Iran and Russia, considering the will of the top leaders of both countries, must be accelerated to strengthen these ties," he said.

In their first face-to-face meeting, Pezeshkian accepted an invitation from his counterpart to visit Russia, according to the state-run RIA news agency. However, RIA did not mention a specific date for the visit.

According to the Russian head of state’s aide, Yuri Ushakov, discussions between the leaders focused on strengthening bilateral relations and addressing the rapidly escalating crisis in the Middle East.

The deepening partnership between Iran and Russia has sparked renewed alarm in Washington and London, particularly over Tehran’s provision of ballistic missiles and suicide drones to support Moscow's war in Ukraine. In exchange, Russia is suspected of supplying Iran with sensitive nuclear technology and intelligence—a development that has left Western officials increasingly uneasy, as it could edge Iran closer to achieving its long-pursued ambition of developing nuclear weapons.

According to sources cited by Bloomberg, "the Kremlin has increased its cooperation with Iran over its ambitions to obtain atomic weapons in recent months," referencing concerns raised by Western officials.

Western intelligence has observed growing collaboration between Moscow and Tehran, sparking alarm over the potential transfer of nuclear expertise that could accelerate Iran’s path toward weaponizing its atomic program. These revelations were reportedly a key topic of discussion during a meeting between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden at the White House in September.

During the international gathering, both Iran and Russia issued strong condemnations of Israel, with Pezeshkian asserting that Israel must "stop killing innocent people" while also attributing its actions in the Middle East to support from the United States and the European Union.

After a series of devastating Israeli operations targeting Hezbollah and the killing of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, Iran retaliated on October 1 with a large missile barrage against Israel. This marked Iran's second missile strike since April, though, like the previous attack, it resulted in minimal damage. While Israel quickly vowed a decisive response, no counterattack has occurred so far.

Both Russia and Iran face heavy Western sanctions, leaving them somewhat isolated on the global stage. Russia's invasion of Ukraine made it the most sanctioned country in the world, surpassing Iran. Despite aiming for $40 billion in bilateral trade, the current level stands at just $4 billion, a gap even acknowledged by Iranian officials.

As both nations navigate sanctions, Iran is solidifying long-term agreements with key partners like China and Russia, in line with Supreme Leader Khamenei’s "Looking East" policy—a cornerstone of the hardliners' “revolutionary economy.” While Pezeshkian supports this approach, he has also expressed openness to dialogue with the West, aiming to ease sanctions.