Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian is likely to attend a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkmenistan’s capital Ashgabat, media outlets in both countries reported on Friday.
The meeting between the two comes at a time when tensions in the Middle East are running high.
Both leaders are set to participate in an international summit held in honour of the 300th birth anniversary of 18th-century poet and thinker Magtymguly Pyragy.
During the meeting, the two are likely to discuss the bilateral relations amid the escalating tensions in West Asia.
Meanwhile, Iranian state media said that apart from Putin, Pezeshkian is also scheduled to meet his counterparts from Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
While Iran and Russia are historical geopolitical rivals, Iran has been assisting Russia in its war against Ukraine since 2022.
In September this year, the United States confirmed reports that Iran transferred shipments of Fath 360 close-range ballistic missiles to Russia.
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj Gen Pat Ryder said in a briefing that the Fath 360 missiles are believed to have a range of about 75 miles and will allow Russians to reserve more advanced missiles with longer range for other uses.
As US and partner nations have been training the country’s service members on the use of equipment such as howitzers and the F-16 Falcon aircraft, the Iranians have trained Russians on the use of the Fath 360.
A US official said that Washington believed Russian and Iranians were sharing information.
“Without being able to go into specifics, we see them sharing information as it relates to nuclear programmes, space and other technological capabilities that Russia has that countries like Iran want,” he said.
According to the Atlantic Council, a nonpartisan organisation that galvanises US leadership and engagement in the world, Iran has sought advanced Russian military technology, including the Su-35 fighter jets and S-400 air defence systems.
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