Iran has requested military assistance from Russia during the visit of Sergey Shoigu to Tehran, amid fears of a regional war, according to a report by the New York Times.
The secretary of the Russian Security Council, Sergey Shoigu, held talks with the Iranian leadership in Tehran amid growing fears of a full-scale war in the Middle East, Russian state media reported on Monday.
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Images published by the Iranian government showed Shoigu meeting with his Iranian counterpart in the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Ali Akbar Ahmadian, before later meetings with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Chief of Staff of the country’s army, Mohammad Baqeri.
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Shoigu’s visit comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, following the announcement by the Iranian leadership that it plans to “punish” Israel with retaliation this week after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday.
The New York Times reported on Monday that the Iranian government has requested advanced air defense systems from Russia ahead of the anticipated strike on Israel, citing officials familiar with the country’s military strategy, who stated that Russia has begun delivering advanced radar and air defense equipment to Tehran.
Russia-Iran Relations
Moscow and Tehran have deepened diplomatic and military ties since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with the West having imposed several additional rounds of sanctions on Iran in an attempt to stop it from supplying armed Shahed drones to the Russian government for use in Ukraine.
Iranian state media reported on Monday that Shoigu condemned the “cowardly” assassination of Haniyeh and stated that Russia is ready to offer “full cooperation to Iran on regional issues” during his visit, while both he and Pezeshkian hailed the increasingly close ties between the two countries.
“The joint stance and cooperation between Iran and Russia for promoting a multipolar world will undoubtedly lead to further strengthening of global security and peace,” stated Pezeshkian.