Live Update arrow right icon From the Liveblog of Monday, August 5, 2024

Russia’s Shoigu in Tehran to discuss response to Haniyeh’s killing

By Reuters 5 August 2024, 10:37 pm 24 Edit
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (R) meeting with Russia's Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, in Tehran, on August 5, 2024 (Iranian Presidential Office / AFP)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (R) meeting with Russia's Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, in Tehran, on August 5, 2024 (Iranian Presidential Office / AFP)

A senior ally of President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tehran today for talks with Iranian leaders, including the president and top security officials, as the Islamic Republic weighs its response to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Russia has condemned the killing of Haniyeh in Iran last week and called on all parties to refrain from steps that could tip the Middle East into a wider regional war.

Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of Russia’s security council, was shown by Russia’s Zvezda television station meeting Rear Admiral Ali Akbar Ahmadian, a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander who serves as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.

Shoigu, who was Russia’s defense minister before being moved to the security council in May, was also to meet President Masoud Pezeshkian.

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