Moscow and Tehran are solidifying their alliance through economic and military cooperation, heightening tensions as Israel contemplates a strike against Iran.
On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Putin expressed the close alignment between the two nations, stating, “We actively work together in the international arena, and our assessments of current events in the world are often very close,” according to the TASS news agency.
Pezeshkian echoed Putin’s sentiment, emphasizing their complementary strengths. “Our positions in the world are much closer to each other than to others,” he told the Russian leader, as reported by Iran’s IRNA news agency.
Putin also highlighted the growing economic ties between the two countries, especially in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, noting the increased cooperation in military technology, including ballistic missiles and drones.
Meanwhile, a senior European Union official announced that sanctions would be imposed over Iran’s missile transfers to Russia.
“We also expect… a first package of designations in the context of Iran’s transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia,” the official stated, but provided no further details.
Iranian officials continued their critical stance on Israel’s actions in the region. Pezeshkian called on Israel to “stop killing innocent people,” accusing the US and EU of backing Israel’s operations.
Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir-Saeed Iravan, also warned, “Israel is now a serious threat to international peace and security. Its ongoing aggressive acts of terror and atrocities now threaten to plunge the entire region into all-out war.”
Israel has been engaged in a multi-front invasion over the past year in Gaza, Lebanon, and in Yemen.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had planned to visit Washington for discussions with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed the trip.
In a phone call with US President Joe Biden, Netanyahu discussed potential retaliatory measures, though no final decision has been made following the Israeli Security Cabinet meeting on Thursday.