Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for supporting Tehran during its conflict with the United States, while calling for closer cooperation between the two countries to resist U.S. sanctions.
The two leaders met on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where they discussed the growing partnership between Moscow and Tehran.
Pezeshkian criticised Washington and its allies for imposing sanctions on Iran and Russia, arguing that countries should not be allowed to impose economic penalties while also violating international law.
“They do not have the right to impose sanctions whenever they please, violate international law, and then commit acts of aggression,” Pezeshkian told Putin, according to a Kremlin account of the meeting.
Putin said Moscow remained committed to assisting Tehran during its confrontation with the United States.
“During this difficult period, we are striving to provide you with the necessary assistance, as we have discussed, and are supplying you with essential goods,” Putin said, according to the Kremlin.
The Russian president’s comments came only days after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled a new economic campaign against Iran, dubbed Operation Economic Outcast. Bessent said the initiative would push Iran into what he described as “unprecedented economic isolation.”
The Bishkek meeting underscored the increasingly close political and military relationship between Russia and Iran.
Iran has supplied Russia with drone technology that helped Moscow establish domestic production of the weapons. The drones have subsequently become a major feature of Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine.
Russia, meanwhile, has assisted Iran with targeting information for retaliatory attacks involving U.S. forces and other targets across the Middle East.
Pezeshkian said the partnership could help both countries resist pressure from Washington.
“We believe, and are confident, that in this way we can counter U.S. unilateralism and the unjust sanctions imposed upon us,” he said, according to the Kremlin readout.
He added that Moscow and Tehran could work through organisations such as the SCO and seek ways to reduce the impact of unilateral sanctions through broader international cooperation.
Putin also expressed disappointment over the collapse of a 60-day ceasefire between Iran and the United States.
The truce failed to produce a lasting agreement or resolve the dispute over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway through which a significant share of the world’s oil shipments passes.
“We welcomed the conclusion of the Iranian-American ceasefire memorandum this June, but, unfortunately, the truce proved unstable and all too fragile,” Putin said.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit brought together 10 leaders for a two-day gathering, including Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Putin’s meeting with Pezeshkian also came shortly after CIA Director John Ratcliffe travelled to Moscow. The visit triggered speculation that Washington was attempting to discourage Putin from increasing Russia’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict or expanding support for Iran.
Ratcliffe’s trip was reportedly the first known visit to Russia by a CIA director since late 2021. It came after fresh U.S. intelligence suggested that the Kremlin believes Washington has been weakened by the conflict with Iran, potentially creating an opportunity for Russia to increase pressure on the United States or its European allies.
Many of the discussions at the Bishkek summit revolved around the wars involving Iran and Ukraine and the growing role of China in supporting Moscow and Tehran politically, economically and strategically.
The United States has previously threatened tougher economic measures against countries purchasing Russian oil. China and India have remained among the biggest buyers of Russian crude since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
However, threatened 100 percent tariffs did not materialise. Earlier this year, U.S. military action against Iran contributed to a sharp rise in global oil prices, prompting Washington to temporarily relax some restrictions on Russian oil in an effort to ease pressure on energy markets.
Trump has also threatened countries assisting Iran with what he called an “economic D-Day.” Analysts have questioned whether the latest pressure campaign will be enough to force Tehran into making major concessions.
In a joint statement issued Tuesday, SCO leaders condemned military attacks on Iran, saying the strikes had caused civilian deaths and inflicted serious damage on the country’s economy.
Although the declaration did not directly condemn U.S. sanctions against Iran or Western sanctions imposed on Russia over the Ukraine war, the leaders rejected what they called “unilateral coercive measures” that could negatively affect the global economy.
Modi calls for an end to Ukraine war
Putin’s efforts to strengthen ties with Xi and Pezeshkian were briefly overshadowed by Modi’s appeal for an end to the war in Ukraine.
Speaking ahead of his meeting with Putin on Monday, Modi said the continuing conflict was damaging humanity and urged the two sides to move towards a permanent resolution.
“Every day of war sets humanity back a step; we need to move from endless war to its conclusion,” Modi said.
Putin responded by saying Russia was working toward the same objective.
However, his comments came against the backdrop of continued Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, highlighting the gap between Moscow’s stated position and its ongoing military operations.
Source: The Washington Post
