Iran’s security chief meets Putin, delivers message from Khamenei

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has met Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei in Moscow to discuss regional security as diplomatic efforts gather pace to end the United States and Israel's war on Iran.

Key points

• Separately, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held phone calls with his counterparts in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Turkiye and Jordan.
• During the session on Thursday, Rezaei additionally delivered a letter to Putin from Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, according to the Iranian state broadcaster Press TV.
• Rezaei, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, remarked Khamenei had wanted him to deliver the message to Putin as shortly as feasible.
• On Saturday, Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia remarked Iran had purchased Russian Su-35 fighter jets and projected to receive them after the war ends.
• In January 2025, they signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty covering trade, military cooperation, science, culture and education.

As well as Russia's backing for ending what he called the US's "aggression" against Iran, speaking after the session, Rezaei stated the discussions had focused on security arrangements in the region.

"Important regional issues were discussed with Putin and significant conversations took place regarding the post-war period and regional security arrangements, " he remarked.

Other topics, he remarked, included aims to deepen energy cooperation, including building gas pipelines from Russia to Iran.

Rezaei, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, remarked Khamenei had wanted him to deliver the message to Putin as shortly as feasible. The trip to Moscow had been planned almost a month earlier, he stated, but was postponed due to "daily discussions about the military situation in the region". He did not say what the message contained.

Khamenei remarked in a written statement on Wednesday that there should not be "even the slightest inclination towards submission" to the US. He additionally called on an "ever stronger" Iran to reach a "point of absolute deterrence".

Rezaei's session with Putin came as Qatar steps up diplomatic efforts to end the war on Iran against the backdrop of fears the US could renew attacks after its midterm elections.

In Tuesday's vote, US President Donald Trump's Republican Party lost control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate against the backdrop of widespread anger over rising costs that plenty of blame on the war on Iran.

Efforts to end the conflict have centred on the future status of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a US blockade of Iranian ports, sanctions against Iran, and a resumption of negotiations over the country's nuclear programme.

Rezaei remarked on Thursday that Tehran would not hold negotiations with the US on ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz until Washington meets its seven demands.

"On the matter of diplomacy, we have unveiled seven conditions to the Americans. As long as they do not execute our seven conditions, we will neither open the Strait of Hormuz nor have negotiations, " he remarked.

According to Rezaei, Putin reiterated that Russia is ready to provide backing to end the war. Last month, Putin informed Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian that Russia was prepared to "do everything" it could towards that end, Russian news agencies noted.

Rezaei remarked the discussion at the Kremlin additionally focused on the construction of a gas pipeline from Russia to Iran, aimed at addressing Iran's gas shortages and enabling Russia to sell its gas to countries neighbouring Iran.

He continued that he had briefed Putin on a gathering held in Tehran in late October among Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan, and that the Russian leader had welcomed it.

"Like our Chinese friends, we believe that there should be regional arrangements and that foreign countries should not interfere in the security of the region, " he remarked.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin did not immediately release its own account of the session. It took place in the Senate Palace, according to Russia's TASS news agency.

His calls focused on regional developments and ongoing diplomatic efforts to promote peace, Iranian state media documented.

Russia and Iran, both under heavy Western sanctions, have strengthened their diplomatic and military ties over recent years.

Notably, the treaty took effect that October, but unlike Russia's pact with North Korea, it does not include a mutual defence clause.

Meanwhile, the planes were originally supposed to arrive before the fighting began, he informed the Iranian news site Tabnak, and the necessary preparations and pilot training were complete.

In short, iran's security chief meets Putin, delivers message from Khamenei is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.