Daniel Wolfram
A new situation might be unfolding during the US-Iran war, as President Vladimir Putin has offered his services.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Turkmenistan on Thursday ahead of the regional Commonwealth of Independent States summit.
There, Putin promised to help mediate the upcoming peace talks between the US and Iran.
He also pledged his full support for Iran and its endeavors in the ongoing war.
‘We are ready’
Interfax, a Russian news agency, said Putin told Pezeshkian, “You know our position. On our part, we are ready to do everything we can to help you resolve this situation,” promising full diplomatic backing.
Russian media reported that Putin threw his weight completely behind Iran’s leadership.
“We know that Iran is making real efforts to end the conflict, which broke out through no fault of its own, no fault of Iran’s,” Putin said, according to Al Jazeera.
Continuing talks
The pledge follows an increase in contact between Russia and Iran.
Before meeting Thursday at the summit, Putin called Pezeshkian on Wednesday to relay that Russia is prepared to mediate efforts to end the war in the Middle East, Iran’s IRNA news agency reported.
They met last month, too. That face-to-face encounter took place at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan. Putin also noted what he called a “positive evolution” in bilateral relations as both states face heavy economic penalties.
The Interfax news agency also reports that President Pezeshkian acknowledged that the relationship between Russia and Iran is getting stronger.
“We are grateful for development of our relations. They are currently developing in virtually all areas, and our relations are on the rise. Everything is progressing in terms of trade, economy, and in the humanitarian area. And we have sufficient political will to further advance our relations,” Pezeshkian said.
Deepening military bonds
Pezeshkian is referring to a “comprehensive strategic partnership treaty” the two countries signed last year right before the war broke out. That partnership now includes sharing military intelligence, helping each other on trade and sharing knowledge on science, culture and education.
Western leaders remain deeply concerned by these developments.
Iran has been accused of supplying Russia with Shahed drones and short-range missiles for use in the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has also been accused of sharing intel with Iran that directly led to the deaths of American servicemen on US military bases in the Middle East.
Will Trump strike again before the midterms?
Negotiations between the US and Iran have stalled.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said that the US will not launch an attack on Iran before the midterm elections, adding that both sides are holding “productive” talks.
Meanwhile, reports from Axios and The Atlantic just a day ago stated that Trump is weighing options on whether he should order strikes on Iran in the coming weeks right before the elections.
“The US is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing. Iran has been decimated, and things will go one of two ways: the easy way or the hard way,” a White House official told Axios. “President Trump holds all the cards and will do whatever is best for the United States.”
