Overview
- The Kremlin confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin met Iranian security council chief Mohsen Rezaei at the Kremlin, with images showing senior aides Yuri Ushakov and military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov present, according to multiple reports Thursday.
- Iranian state media and Rezaei said he delivered a personal message from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, though both governments declined to disclose the message’s contents.
- Rezaei reported that discussions covered regional security and that, according to him, Putin backed regional security mechanisms excluding outside powers and expressed willingness to help end the war, a claim that comes from Iranian officials.
- Energy cooperation featured in the talks as Rezaei raised Iran’s gas shortages and the possibility of building pipelines to bring Russian gas into Iran as a practical way to alleviate domestic shortfalls.
- Separate reporting by the Financial Times surfaced Russian production records that list 90 guided-missile launchers tied to a customer code linked to Iran, but the documents do not prove delivery and the arms claims remain unconfirmed as ties between Moscow and Tehran deepen after several senior visits this year.