At a Glance:

• Iran's president met Russia's president in Moscow.

• The two leaders discussed regional tensions and cooperation.

• Moscow is seeking to play a mediating role in the Middle East.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, where he argued that the Middle East can resolve its own problems without American involvement.

Key Statements and Focus Area:

• Regional Self-Reliance: "I believe we are capable of resolving our problems in the region without relying on the United States." — Masoud Pezeshkian, President of Iran.

• Concern Over the Situation: "We spoke earlier, one-on-one, about the situation in the region, a situation that, undoubtedly, cannot help but cause concern." — Vladimir Putin, President of Russia.

• Focus of the Article: The article centers on the Iran-Russia meeting in Moscow, where both sides pledged deeper cooperation as Russia looks to mediate in the stalled Iran-US standoff.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of a summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum. Pezeshkian said growing trade ties and US actions in the region were pushing Tehran toward greater multilateralism and closer cooperation with Moscow and other countries under unilateral American sanctions. He added that both sides had the will to expand cooperation in science, industry, culture, security, and military affairs, while Putin said he hoped the situation in the region would evolve in a positive direction.

The talks follow a visit to Iran last week by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, his first since the war began, during which he said Moscow's efforts were aimed at preventing a return to large-scale war. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later said the two countries had never worked so closely. Negotiations between Washington and Tehran have been stalled for months, with both the US and Israel threatening to resume strikes on Iran.

FYI

The Middle East war broke out on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran and has since left the region on edge, with diplomacy between Tehran and Washington frozen. Russia and Iran have steadily deepened ties in recent years, spanning energy, trade, and defense, and both face Western sanctions.

The Gas Exporting Countries Forum, based in Doha, brings together major gas producers, including Russia and Iran, two of the world's largest holders of natural gas reserves.

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