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STORY: :: Russia's Putin meets with Iranian President Pezeshkian at a conference in Turkmenistan

:: October 11, 2024

:: Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

:: Vladimir Putin, Russian President

:: "I am very glad, dear Mr. President, that there is an opportunity to meet you personally and discuss our current issues. Relations with Iran are a priority for us and they are developing very successfully."

:: Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian President

:: "I am happy that I have this opportunity to be here and meet with you. Our relations in the cultural, economic and social spheres are stronger and improving day by day. To this end and taking into account the will shown by the supreme leader of the Islamic Revolution, and the belief that we have in our relations, should see them becoming stronger and improving. We have many opportunities now, we should help each other in many areas. Our view points and positions in the world are much closer to one each other than to those of others. God willing, we will take part in the BRICS summit and will do everything to sign agreements that will allow beneficial mutual cooperation."

At odds with Washington and the European Union over Russia's war in Ukraine, something he casts as part of a wider existential struggle against an arrogant and self-interested West - Putin is keen to deepen ties with what he calls the Global East and Global South.

Putin, whose country is hosting a summit of the BRICS nations in Kazan on Oct. 22-24, invited Pezeshkian to come to Russia on an official visit, a proposal the Iranian leader accepted according to Russia's state RIA news agency.

Pezeshkian last month committed his country to deeper ties with Russia to counter Western sanctions. The two countries say they are close to signing a strategic partnership agreement, something Pezeshkian said on Friday he hoped could be finalized at the BRICS summit in Russia later this month.

The United States regards Moscow's growing relationship with Tehran with concern. It has accused Iran of supplying Russia with ballistic missiles for use in the conflict in Ukraine, something Tehran has denied.