Amid continued Israeli strikes on Iran, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow on Monday, signaling strong support for Tehran.
During the meeting, Putin condemned the recent US attacks on Iran, calling them baseless and unjustified, and assured the Iranian delegation of Russia’s continued backing.
A Kremlin-released video showed the meeting taking place in a lavishly decorated room, with Putin joined by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and senior aide Yury Ushakov, a former ambassador to the US.
“This aggression against Iran has no legitimate basis,” Putin said, adding that Russia has a long-standing and trustworthy relationship with Iran and remains committed to supporting its people. He also suggested that the United States was influenced by Israel in launching the recent strikes.
Putin informed Araghchi that he had held phone discussions with several world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, UAE President Mohammed Al Nahyan, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The Kremlin, however, noted that there were no plans for a call between Putin and Trump after the U.S. attack.
In response, Araghchi expressed gratitude for Russia’s backing, stating that Moscow was “on the right side of history.” He praised the strengthening of Iran-Russia ties in recent years.
Iran has been a key supporter of Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Tehran has supplied weapons, including short-range ballistic missiles and thousands of Shahed drones, and according to U.S. officials, even helped establish a drone production facility in Russia.
Russia, in turn, has backed Iran throughout its tensions with Israel and in the aftermath of American strikes. Araghchi also highlighted Russia’s ongoing role in Iran’s nuclear program, noting that Moscow played a significant part in negotiations and remains involved in operating the Bushehr nuclear power plant — Iran’s only nuclear facility.
Putin mentioned last week that around 200 Russian specialists are currently stationed at the plant and thanked Israel for agreeing to ensure their safety.
