Kremlin talks: Putin, Rezaei and Russia’s spy chief meet

Russian President Vladimir Putin received Iran’s Supreme National Security Council chief Mohsen Rezaei at the Kremlin on Thursday, the president’s office said, as tensions between Tehran and Washington remain high.

Putin was joined by his foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov and Igor Kostyukov, head of Russia’s military intelligence agency (GRU), according to an image released by the Kremlin. The presence of the country’s top military intelligence official signals that security issues were high on the agenda.

No details of the talks were disclosed.

The meeting underscores the deepening partnership between Moscow and Tehran. Iran has supplied Russia with large numbers of Shahed attack drones, which Moscow has used extensively in its war in Ukraine and now also produces on its own soil under licence. In return, Russia is reported to provide Iran with military equipment and intelligence support.

The visit comes at a critical moment for Tehran. Talks mediated by Qatar to end the conflict with the United States have stalled, while Washington has kept the threat of renewed strikes on the table. Iran is also seeking to strengthen ties with its partners as it faces growing isolation in the region.

For Moscow, which is itself preparing for trilateral talks with Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi next week, Iran remains a key strategic ally in its effort to counter Western influence.