Russia, Iran discuss strengthening defense cooperation in Moscow

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Websites
21 Jul 2025 20:39

Russian and Iranian defense ministers meet in Moscow to discuss expanding military and defense cooperation, according to Iran’s ambassador to Russia.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attend a signing ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool Photo via AP)

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov met with Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh in Moscow on Monday to discuss enhancing bilateral military cooperation, according to Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali.

The meeting between Belousov and Nasirzadeh took place as part of ongoing efforts to deepen strategic ties between Moscow and Tehran. The talks focused on boosting collaboration in defense and military sectors.

"The topic of this meeting was strengthening bilateral cooperation in the military and defense spheres," Ambassador Jalali told Iran’s IRNA news agency.

The Iranian Embassy in Moscow also released a statement on the meeting through its official Telegram channel, reiterating the two countries' intention to continue advancing joint defense initiatives.

The meeting underscores the growing alignment between Russia and Iran in light of shared regional and geopolitical interests.

Putin, Larijani discuss ME affairs, nuclear file

Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin received Ali Larijani, senior adviser to Iranian Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei, at the Kremlin, where the two discussed regional developments and the Iranian nuclear file, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

Peskov stated that Larijani conveyed Tehran’s assessment of the escalating situation in the Middle East, as well as updates concerning the Iranian nuclear program. The meeting reflects ongoing diplomatic engagement between Moscow and Tehran amid rising regional tensions.

According to the Kremlin spokesperson, the Russian side reiterated its well-known stance in support of stabilizing the region and pursuing a political resolution to matters surrounding Iran’s nuclear activities.