Putin and Pezeshkian Honor Khamenei, Killed in US-Israeli Strikes, and Challenge US Influence

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, Oct. 27, that the Middle East could resolve its conflicts without the US, as Tehran and Moscow pledged to deepen an increasingly consequential partnership spanning military cooperation, energy and regional security. Speaking on the sidelines of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum summit in Moscow, Pezeshkian thanked Putin for Russia’s political and economic support and called for closer cooperation among countries facing US sanctions.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “I believe we are capable of resolving our problems in the region without relying on the US,” Pezeshkian said. He argued that Washington’s actions were encouraging Iran and Russia to work more closely together and strengthen a multipolar international order. “Our trade is expanding and growing day by day. US actions in the region make it easier for us to move towards greater multilateralism and strengthen our cooperation with you and other countries subject to unilateral US sanctions,” he said. The statements highlighted the deepening relationship between two governments whose military cooperation has already had direct consequences for Ukraine. Iran has supplied Russia with drones and ballistic missile technology used to support its invasion of Ukraine, according to US and European authorities. Moscow, meanwhile, has reportedly provided Iran with military equipment, drone technology and intelligence assistance amid its confrontation with Washington and Israel. Other Topics of Interest Russian Strike Hits Kharkiv Apartment Building, Injures Four Including 4-Year-Old Boy Russian forces struck a residential building in Kharkiv late Tuesday, leaving four people injured and residents reportedly trapped inside. The cooperation has raised concerns that technology and battlefield experience gained in Russia’s war against Ukraine could also strengthen Iranian military capabilities in the Middle East. From Iranian drones in Ukraine to Russian military assistance for Tehran The Russia-Iran relationship has evolved beyond diplomatic coordination and economic cooperation into an increasingly important military partnership. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Iranian-designed Shahed drones have become a major component of Moscow’s long-range strike campaign. Russia subsequently established domestic production and modified the drones, improving their capabilities for use against Ukrainian targets. US and European officials have reported that Russia may be transferring upgraded Shahed drones back to Iran, incorporating improvements developed during the war in Ukraine. Putin and Pezeshkian Pay Tribute to Ayatollah Khamenei, Killed in US-Israeli Strikes During Tuesday’s talks, Pezeshkian expressed confidence that Moscow and Tehran could deepen cooperation across several sectors, explicitly including security and military affairs. He thanked Putin for supporting Iran politically and economically, arguing that US pressure had created greater incentives for countries under sanctions to cooperate. “After the Americans began taking such aggressive steps in the region, it became clear to everyone that we must work toward creating a multipolar world,” Pezeshkian said. His remarks came amid the continuing confrontation involving Iran, the US and Israel, which escalated with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Tehran last week. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi subsequently said the two countries had never worked so closely. Both leaders paid tribute to Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28. Addressing the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, Pezeshkian praised Khamenei’s foresight, initiative and support for the organization, describing his contribution to its development as substantial. Putin echoed the tribute, crediting Khamenei with playing an active role in establishing the forum. “You rightly recalled the role of the former spiritual leader of the Iranian people, Ayatollah Khamenei, who was indeed one of the active participants in establishing our forum,” Putin said. “We rightly remember him with gratitude.” Iran Approves Russian State TV Bureau in Tehran as Ties Deepen Putin used the meeting to emphasize the economic foundations of the partnership. He said bilateral trade increased by 10.4% during the first eight months of 2026 and reaffirmed Moscow’s commitment to ongoing joint projects. “We are fulfilling all our obligations under all our projects,” Putin said. The Russian president highlighted continued construction at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, where Russia is a major technology and construction partner. He also noted that nearly 10,000 Iranian students were enrolled at Russian universities. Pezeshkian announced that Iran had cleared the way for Russia’s state television broadcaster VGTRK to establish a bureau in Tehran, following discussions during Lavrov’s recent visit. The expansion of Russian state media operations would add another dimension to an increasingly broad relationship involving government institutions, energy companies and security establishments. Putin and Pezeshkian challenge Western energy sanctions At the gas exporters’ summit, both presidents criticized Western sanctions and efforts to restrict their countries’ participation in international energy markets. Pezeshkian accused the US and Israel of undermining global energy security through military attacks on Iranian infrastructure and restrictions affecting the country’s energy exports. He urged major gas-producing countries to oppose what he described as destabilizing unilateral measures. Putin echoed those criticisms, arguing that Europe’s efforts to reduce dependence on Russian gas were harming European industries and households. “Any attempts to exclude Russia from the global gas market or restrain the development of our industry carry serious consequences,” he said. The Russian president accused European governments of imposing excessive costs on their own economies by rejecting Russian energy supplies. The EU has pursued restrictions on Russian energy imports as part of broader efforts to reduce the revenue available to Moscow for financing its war against Ukraine. Putin explores US energy cooperation despite Tehran’s anti-US message Despite Pezeshkian’s call to reduce US influence in the Middle East, Putin signaled that Moscow remained open to cooperation with American companies in the energy sector. Speaking at the forum, Putin said Russia was considering joint projects with US partners in the Arctic. “Until recently, European partners worked alongside us in our fields, and Chinese partners are still working there. Now, we’re exploring the possibility of joint work with American partners,” Putin said. He did not identify prospective American companies or specific agreements.