The Middle East can resolve its problems without US involvement, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, while also calling for stronger cooperation with Moscow.
“I believe that we are capable of resolving the problems in our region without depending on the US,” Pezeshkian said during his meeting with Putin on the sidelines of an energy summit in Moscow.
“If there is the will, and I am convinced that there is, we will be able to support one another in all areas and develop our scientific, economic, industrial, cultural and military relations,” he added.
For his part, Putin said he had discussed with the Iranian President “the situation in the region, which is undoubtedly a cause for concern” and expressed the hope that “it will develop favourably”.
Russia and Iran maintain close political relations, while their military and economic cooperation has strengthened since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said cooperation between Tehran and Moscow had never been closer, during a visit to Iran by his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.
In early October, Putin had assured Pezeshkian that Russia was ready to contribute to mediation efforts between Iran and the US.
Source: CNA
