Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Iranian President in a diplomatic effort to address regional tensions

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of a regional meeting in Turkmenistan, where they discussed the situation in the Middle East. The meeting took place before the expected signing of a strategic partnership agreement between the two countries. According to Putin, Moscow and Tehran have very close positions on international affairs. This meeting occurs in the context of increasing tensions in the Middle East, particularly with regards to Israeli air strikes on Beirut aimed at the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. The strengthened ties between Russia and Iran since the Kremlin's involvement in Ukraine in 2022 are also a notable factor.