Khamenei stated the West didn’t need Russia to be sturdy, describing the USA as “crafty” and NATO as “harmful,” in keeping with Iranian state media. “As regards Ukraine, in case you didn’t take the initiative, the opposite aspect would have initiated the struggle,” IRNA quoted Khamenei as saying, echoing a typical speaking level from Putin.
Putin additionally mentioned commerce, power, transportation and the battle in Syria in his assembly with Raisi, who’s rising as a key ally of Moscow.
Putin admitted Monday in a gathering with Kremlin officers that Western sanctions had created “colossal” difficulties for the Russian economic system. He has sought to increase commerce with China, Asia and the Center East to make up for plummeting imports from the West. Putin’s solely different worldwide journey since February was late final month when he flew to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
In his assembly with Raisi, he extolled rising commerce ties with Iran, sending a message to his Russian viewers that whereas Western corporations have left the nation in droves, Moscow nonetheless has dependable pals. “We will boast of report figures when it comes to commerce progress,” Putin stated.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated Russia and Iran have been used to Western sanctions, which he referred to as the value of their independence.
“Iran has been underneath sanctions of varied types for many years … which, as we should always level out outright, we view as completely illegitimate from the standpoint of worldwide regulation,” Peskov stated in feedback to Iranian media broadcast on Russian state tv.
He stated that bettering relations with Iran was “a long-term line of our overseas coverage,” including {that a} strategic cooperation deal will in all probability be signed within the coming months.
The White Home has claimed that Russia desires to amass surveillance drones from Iran to be used in Ukraine, however Peskov stated this was not on the agenda in Tehran.
The presence of Erdogan, who has tried to place himself as a mediator between Moscow and Kyiv, raised hopes that he might assist construct on progress made final week in Turkey, when Russia and Ukraine agreed to preliminary steps that may permit grain shipments to renew from Ukrainian ports.
Russia is blockading Ukraine’s Black Sea transport routes, together with the foremost port of Odessa, contributing to a worldwide meals disaster as the value of bread, cooking oil and fertilizer soars. Greater than 100 ships laden with grain are estimated to be caught at port or at sea.
U.N. officers, who’re additionally serving to to dealer the grain settlement between Ukraine and Russia, stated extra work wanted to be achieved. Throughout a information briefing Monday, Farhan Haq, a spokesman for the U.N. secretary basic, stated that “we don’t have any explicit expectations” {that a} grain deal will emerge from the three-way assembly in Iran. For the reason that talks in Istanbul final week, he added, “we really feel that incrementally, there’s been a bit bit extra progress made, however there’s nothing to announce at this stage.”
Putin sounded the same observe on the outset of his assembly with Erdogan, saying, “It’s true that not all points have been resolved but, however the truth that there’s motion is already good.”
The leaders have been additionally discussing Turkey’s plans for a army incursion into northern Syria, focusing on a U.S.-allied Kurdish-led militia. Ankara says the deliberate operation is aimed toward pushing again fighters affiliated with the Kurdistan Staff’ Celebration, or PKK, which it regards as a terrorist group.
However any army operation might put Turkey in battle with Iran and Russia, that are allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and have maintained army forces within the nation.
Khamenei appeared to sign his displeasure throughout a gathering with Erdogan on Tuesday, saying {that a} army assault was “positively to the detriment of Syria, Turkey and the area.” An aide to Putin, Yuri Ushakov, stated earlier than the Tehran conferences that Russia opposed any motion that violated Syria’s territorial integrity.
However because the leaders gathered late Tuesday to deal with the media, Erdogan dismissed Russia’s and Iran’s opposition to his army plans: “I hear from you, my pricey pals, that you just perceive Turkey’s safety considerations. I’m grateful for this. Nonetheless, phrases alone aren’t any remedy for wounds.”
Erdogan additionally criticized assaults on civilians in rebel-held Idlib province in northwestern Syria, carried out by Russia or the Syrian authorities, saying they “undermine our efforts for a political resolution.”
Putin’s go to comes simply days after President Biden visited Saudi Arabia and Israel, the place he spoke of fears that China and Russia have been looking for to fill an influence vacuum within the Center East. “We will’t let that occur,” he stated Friday in Tel Aviv.
“There’s a actuality within the area with Russia within the middle of it,” stated Vali Nasr, professor of Center Japanese research at Johns Hopkins College’s College of Superior Worldwide Research. “This has countered the USA’ perception that the dynamic [in the region] is about Israel and Arabs getting collectively towards Iran. The Putin-Erdogan-Raisi conferences present that there are different gamers and dynamics past these in Riyadh final week.”
Because the talks in Tehran obtained underway, the Nationwide Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC) and Russian gasoline producer Gazprom signed a memorandum of understanding value about $40 billion. Gazprom will assist NIOC within the improvement of the Kish and North Pars gasoline fields and in addition six oil fields, in keeping with Shana, the Iranian oil ministry’s information company. Gazprom can even be concerned within the completion of liquefied pure gasoline tasks and development of gasoline export pipelines.
Fahim reported from Istanbul. Tsui reported from Washington. Sean Fanning in London contributed to this report.
