Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian recently met amidst rising concerns over escalating attacks in the Middle East. The meeting took place on the sidelines of an international forum in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, where the two leaders discussed the situation in the region.
Tehran has been supplying weapons for Moscow’s involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, with a $1.7 billion deal signed between the two countries for Iran to export drones to Russia. Additionally, there are growing fears over heightened attacks between Israel and Iran, along with its militant allies. The United States has raised concerns that Iran has transferred short-range ballistic missiles to its partners in the region.
British intelligence agency MI5’s director, Ken McCallum, accused both Russia and Iran of a significant increase in attempts at assassination, sabotage, and other criminal activities on UK soil. McCallum noted that his agency has thwarted around 20 potentially lethal plots linked to Iran since 2022. He warned that if conflicts in the Middle East intensify, Iran may expand its hostile activities in the UK.
During their meeting, Putin expressed that Moscow and Tehran often share similar international outlooks. He extended an invitation to Pezeshkian to visit Russia, which was accepted. Both leaders stressed the importance of supporting each other and acknowledged their aligned principles in global affairs.
Pezeshkian condemned Israel’s actions in Lebanon, describing them as “savage attacks.” Israel has recently launched ground troops and airstrikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon. Putin, on the other hand, discussed his vision of creating a new world order comprised of Moscow’s allies to counter the influence of Western powers.
The international forum in Ashgabat also saw the presence of other regional leaders, including Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and heads of Central Asian nations like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Putin is scheduled to hold talks with Turkmen President Serdar Berdymukhamedov, who succeeded his father as the leader of the gas-rich country in 2022.
Turkmenistan has historically been secluded under authoritarian rule since gaining independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The meeting between the Russian and Iranian presidents underscores the complex dynamics at play in the Middle East amidst mounting tensions and geopolitical manoeuvring.