Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and expanding strategic cooperation during a meeting on the sidelines of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit and a Caspian Sea environmental summit in Turkmenistan.The two leaders reviewed progress in bilateral relations and discussed ways to enhance cooperation in key sectors, including energy, agriculture, transportation, trade and economic development. They also stressed the need to accelerate the completion of joint projects in line with their national interests and regional stability.
During the meeting, Putin said bilateral trade between Russia and Iran had increased by 21 percent in 2025 and continued to grow in 2026. He also asked Pezeshkian to convey his greetings and best wishes for the health and success of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei.Putin acknowledged Iran’s efforts to help bring an end to ongoing conflicts and expressed Moscow’s readiness to take necessary steps to assist Tehran in addressing the conflicts in West Asia.Pezeshkian said relations between the two countries were expanding across economic, commercial and humanitarian sectors.
He expressed optimism that bilateral coordination would continue to advance, describing the current period as an opportunity to further deepen cooperation.The Iranian president also called for a shift toward multilateralism, criticizing what he described as US unilateralism. He thanked Moscow for opposing unilateral approaches and reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to working toward a multilateral international order.Discussing diplomacy with Washington, Pezeshkian said Iran would not abandon negotiations despite what he described as repeated attacks following previous rounds of talks. He noted that both sides had exchanged proposals and that Tehran had made revisions to its position, with the proposals expected to be finalized and discussed through existing intermediaries.
Pezeshkian thanked Russia for its positions on regional developments and at the United Nations, reiterating that Iran sought an end to the war while insisting that the rights of the Iranian people be respected under international law. He added that an approach based on US unilateralism remained unacceptable to Tehran.The two presidents concluded by emphasizing the importance of expediting joint projects and broadening comprehensive cooperation, underscoring their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and promoting regional stability.
