Putin visits Iran for the first time since invading Ukraine

First travel outside of the former Soviet Union for Putin since he invaded Ukraine, which effectively severed relations with the West.

Russia’s Vladimir Putin met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his trip to Turkey. Ayatollah Khamenei met with him on Tuesday as well.

“Iranian hospitality has made me feel quite at home. Record-breaking increase in trade is something we can be proud of,” In a one-on-one conversation with Raisi, Putin remarked this. In order to help resolve the Syrian war, “we are increasing our cooperation on international security problems.”

Both countries have “excellent experience” in the fight against terrorism, Raisi added.

Official Iranian news agency Shana reports that Iran’s national oil firm and Russia’s state-run gas corporation Gazprom struck a $40 billion deal on Tuesday. There will be additional gas export pipes being built in Iran as part of the agreement.

Khamenei, on the other hand, praised Russian-Iranian collaboration as “very advantageous.”

The current status of the world, he said, “shows Iran and Russia’s need for strengthening mutual collaboration.”

Khamenei also remarked that NATO expansion had to be “stopped,” referring to Putin’s campaign in Ukraine.

“NATO is a threat to the world. Having a strong, independent Russia is completely opposed by the Western world. If NATO is given the green light, it will see no boundaries,” Khamenei made the comment. In Crimea, if it hadn’t been halted in Ukraine, it would have initiated a similar war.

Western diplomats have been concerned by Russia’s close ties to Iran as Putin prepares to step up ground operations in eastern Ukraine following the takeover of Luhansk by his soldiers.

White House officials cite recently declassified US data that says Iran plans to educate Russian forces on how to utilize “hundreds” of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during the conflict in Ukraine, including weapons-capable UAVs.

According to the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, John Kirby, “Russia looking to Iran for support tells volumes about how the international community has become further alienated by both governments for their actions into different areas of the world.”

Speaking of Iran’s nuclear deal, the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany are all original signatories and will be in attendance at the summit.

An Iranian nuclear deal can’t be saved “by the day,” US Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley told CNN in an interview on Monday.

Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed Ukraine’s grain exports during their meeting. According to the Ukrainian government, more than 20 million metric tons of grain are being held up in transit because of a Russian blockade.

Putin commended Erdogan for his efforts to mediate between the two countries. He said, “With your mediation, we’ve made progress. Although some concerns have been fixed, others remain. However, what has already been is fine.”

Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, claimed that the two countries are engaged in diplomatic discussions.

“It is a huge advantage that we can do so,” Erdogan said, adding that he is “sure that Russia’s approach continues to be favorable” in the context of Turkey’s role as a mediator.

Following Erdogan’s threat to obstruct the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO, Putin paid a visit to Ankara, where he met with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

If the conditions are not met, “I would want to remind you once again that we would suspend this procedure,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated Monday following a cabinet meeting.

Last month, at the NATO summit, he dropped his objections to the expansion, dealing a diplomatic blow to Putin.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei advised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan not to launch a military campaign in northern Syria, according to state-run news agency IRNA.

Erdogan was reportedly informed by Khamenei in Tehran that a military attack on Syria’s north would favor terrorists rather than Turkey.

YPG militants, which Turkey considers a terrorist organization, have previously been threatened with a major military offensive by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“This step would undoubtedly affect Syria, Turkey, and the region, and it would not promote the expected political movement by the Syrians,” Khamenei said.

In addition, he said, “The Syrian issue should be settled through dialogue; Iran, Turkey, Syria, and Russia will hold discussions on this topic.”

Raisi also called for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Syria and blamed the “occupying forces of the United States” for the country’s instability.

Syria should handle its own internal issues, he argued, and other countries shouldn’t be allowed to interfere.

He asserted that military action would worsen the security situation and that the only solution to the Syrian crisis is a diplomatic one.