Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in Iran on Tuesday for meetings aimed at strengthening defense ties between Moscow and Tehran, Russian news agencies reported.
Moscow is seeking to strengthen its ties with other countries ostracized by the West, notably Iran, accused of supplying Moscow with combat drones for its offensive in Ukraine. Tehran denies these allegations.
“I believe that our meeting is a new step in strengthening the strategic partnership between Russia and Iran,” S. Shoigu said during a meeting with the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, General of division Mohammad Bagheri. “Today we have the opportunity to discuss in detail urgent issues of bilateral military cooperation,” he said, quoted by Russian agencies.
“Iran is Russia’s strategic partner in the Middle East,” Shoigu added.
According to the official Iranian news agency IRNA, the discussions focus on “development of defense diplomacy” and “management of common threats”.
S. Shoigu’s visit was organized during the Chinese Foreign Minister’s four-day visit to Moscow and after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s multi-day train trip to the Russian Far East.
Source: The Delfi
