Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, on Thursday during a meeting with Masoud Pezeshkian, his Iranian counterpart, ahead of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in Turkmenistan, referred to his country's commitment to help end the Middle East war. This meeting took place as both countries, being among the most heavily sanctioned in the world, are set to attend the summit starting Friday at the Avaza resort on the Caspian Sea.
Putin's Commitments to Help Iran
Putin emphasized during the meeting: "We are ready to do everything in our power to help resolve this situation." He also referred to Iran's genuine efforts to end the war, stating that these efforts began following the attacks by the United States and Israel on February 28.
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The Russian President also stressed the "positive evolution" of Iran-Russia relations, noting that the two countries have strengthened their diplomatic and military ties since the onset of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This close relationship has gained more significance as both countries have become increasingly dependent on each other.
Challenges in Iran-U.S. Negotiations
Meanwhile, Pezeshkian referred to the stagnation in Iran-U.S. negotiations, stating that talks with Washington are "meaningless." He added: "We are in dialogue, but every time we negotiate with the United States, they attack again." These remarks come as Putin had previously expressed his willingness to mediate in the Middle East war during a phone call with Pezeshkian.
At this summit, Putin and Pezeshkian will be joined by leaders from other countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus. The Commonwealth of Independent States, established in 1991, was formed to maintain relations among the former Soviet republics and is currently being held at a time when some of its members are seeking diversification in their economic and diplomatic relations.
Given the current circumstances, many analysts believe that Russia is trying to use this summit as a platform to expand its influence in the region, while other members of the summit may not be inclined to follow Russia's positions. This highlights the existing challenges in international politics and diplomatic relations among countries.
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