Putin, Pezeshkian bolster strategic Russia-Iran ties during Bishkek talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian took stock of bilateral ties and explored prospects for closer cooperation as they met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek.

During the talks, Putin emphasised that Russia and Iran have maintained last year’s momentum in trade and economic relations despite the challenging military and political situation, Caliber.Az reports via Russian state media.

The Russian leader said Moscow was seeking to provide Tehran with the necessary assistance and supply goods it requires. 

He added that the Russian people stand in solidarity with Iranians defending their interests and admire their courage and resilience. The two leaders also touched on humanitarian cooperation, including the growing popularity of Russian higher education among Iranian students.

For his part, Pezeshkian said Tehran-Moscow relations are strategic in nature, helping the Islamic Republic effectively counter the United States. 

The Iranian president expressed confidence that his country would emerge victorious from the confrontation and thanked Putin for Russia’s position during the conflict between Washington and Tehran. 

At the end of the meeting, Putin asked Pezeshkian to convey his greetings to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

The talks were attended by key members of the Russian government, including the heads of the Foreign Ministry, Energy Ministry, Transport Ministry, Economic Development Ministry, Rosatom and the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSVTS).

The meeting marked the first face-to-face talks between the two leaders since their meeting in Turkmenistan in late 2025.

By Jeyhun Aghazada