Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for the first time on Friday at a regional summit in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. This meeting signifies a warming of relations between the two sanctioned nations, as well as heightened tensions in the Middle East following Iran's recent large-scale missile attack and Israel's anticipated response.
Over the years, Iran and Russia have strengthened their military ties, particularly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Iran has supplied Russia with thousands of 'Shahed' attack drones and reportedly built a drone factory in Russia. Furthermore, Iran recently transferred short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the conflict in Ukraine, signaling a significant increase in Iran's support for Moscow.
A senior analyst noted that since the Ukraine conflict, both countries have become more interdependent and have found mutual benefit in supporting each other on specific issues.
Moscow and Tehran have formed a de facto military alliance in the region to bolster the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. As both countries face increasing isolation due to global sanctions, they have found common ground in their shared interests and strategic objectives.
