Kremlin announces meeting between Putin and Iranian president

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to meet with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian later this week for discussions on strategic cooperation. Read Full Article at RT.com.

Kremlin announces meeting between Putin and Iranian president
Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to engage in discussions with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian this week to explore opportunities for enhancing bilateral cooperation, as stated by the Kremlin. During these talks, the two leaders are expected to formalize a significant strategic partnership agreement.

Pezeshkian's visit to Moscow is scheduled for January 17, as confirmed by a statement from the Kremlin via Telegram on Monday.

The agenda for the talks includes a variety of critical topics, such as trade and investment, transportation and logistics, as well as humanitarian issues. Additionally, the leaders will address current regional and international developments, according to the Kremlin. Following the meeting, they will sign the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement between Russia and Iran and subsequently hold a press conference to share their insights with the media.

Pezeshkian’s previous visit to Russia was in October for the BRICS Summit in Kazan, where the Kremlin noted the strengthening of relations between Iran and Russia, suggesting that they were evolving toward a “comprehensive strategic partnership.”

In late October, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that a treaty outlining this partnership was in preparation and would facilitate “closer cooperation in the field of defense” between Moscow and Tehran.

The agreement has been under discussion since 2022. In July, Russian Foreign Ministry Deputy Head Andrey Rudenko informed TASS that the Russian side had finalized the approval of the document. Initially, the signing was planned to occur during the Kazan Summit, but the leaders later opted to complete it during an upcoming bilateral visit.

Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News