Iran's security chief meets Putin in Moscow

Pipeline talks also held to address gas shortage and sell Russian gas to neighboring countries

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) shakes hands with Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, during Rezaei's visit to Moscow on Thursday (local time). [EPA]
Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) shakes hands with Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, during Rezaei's visit to Moscow on Thursday (local time). [EPA]

As US President Donald Trump faces mounting pressure to end the war with Iran following a heavy defeat in the US midterm elections, Iran's top security official met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, delivering a message from the supreme leader and holding in-depth talks on post-war Middle East security arrangements and energy cooperation. The meeting signals Iran's push to deepen ties with Russia as it braces for a reshaping of the regional order amid continued US military and economic pressure.

According to Iranian state media, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, visited the Kremlin in Moscow on Thursday (local time) and held talks with Putin.

Iranian media reported that Rezaei personally delivered a message from Supreme Leader Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei to Putin.

The Kremlin also confirmed that Putin received Rezaei at the presidential palace. However, the specific contents of Khamenei's message were not disclosed.

Speaking immediately after the meeting, Rezaei said the supreme leader had wanted the message delivered to Putin "as soon as possible," adding that Putin "conveyed warm and sincere greetings" to the supreme leader in return.

The two sides held substantive discussions on key regional issues and the future security landscape of the Middle East.

Rezaei said he and Putin "consulted on major regional issues," with particularly significant discussions held on "building a regional security framework after the end of the war."

He added that Putin "said he would do everything possible to end the war," and that Putin "strongly condemned the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities and made clear his position that the war against Iran is unjust."

Energy cooperation was also on the agenda alongside security matters.

Rezaei said the talks included discussion of building a gas pipeline from Russia to Iran, explaining that the project would serve both to address Iran's domestic gas shortage and to sell Russian gas to neighboring countries.

The plan positions Iran as a regional intermediary for Russian energy exports that face Western sanctions.

The Iranian government, which has suffered under sweeping US maritime blockades and economic sanctions imposed during the war, has been expanding cooperation with Russia and China as it seeks a path to survival.


mokiya@heraldcorp.com