Putin Pledges Support for Iran Amid U.S. Pressure

Putin said Russia was providing Iran with needed assistance and supplies during what he described as a difficult period, while criticizing the collapse of a June ceasefire between Washington and Tehran. Pezeshkian thanked Moscow for its backing and said closer cooperation with Russia could help both countries resist U.S. sanctions and what Tehran describes as unilateral American pressure.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek, where Russia, China, India and other regional powers were gathered. Their discussions came as tensions between Iran and the United States remained high following renewed military exchanges and disputes over the implementation of a June agreement intended to halt the conflict. Iran has also made the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for global energy shipments, conditional on Washington meeting its commitments under the agreement.

Russia and Iran have expanded their strategic relationship in recent years, including cooperation in defense, trade and technology. Iran has supplied Russia with drone technology used in the war in Ukraine, while Moscow has deepened economic and military cooperation with Tehran as both countries confront Western sanctions. The SCO summit also produced a joint statement opposing unilateral measures that could harm the global economy, reflecting broader efforts among member states to strengthen cooperation outside the U.S.-led Western system

Sources: Information for this report was provided by The Washington Post, Reuters, Al Jazeera and Anadolu Agency.