Russian PM to meet Iran’s Pezeshkian in Tehran in wake of Nasrallah killing
Monday visit comes amid West’s concerns over Russia assisting Islamic Republic with its nuclear program in exchange for ballistic missiles for use in Ukraine
MOSCOW, Russia — Russia announced Sunday that Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on Monday.
The announcement came as Russia has condemned Israel’s “political murder” of Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group chief Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut.
Mishustin will hold talks with Pezeshkian and First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, the government statement said.
“It is planned to discuss the full range of Russian-Iranian cooperation in the trade and economic and cultural and humanitarian spheres,” Russia said.
The talks will focus on “carrying out large joint projects in fields involving transport energy, industry, and agriculture,” the statement added.
Western governments have accused Iran of supplying both drones and missiles to Moscow for its war on Ukraine, a charge Tehran has repeatedly denied.
Pezeshkian is set to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Russia next month to attend the BRICS summit.
Nearly two weeks ago, top Russian security official Sergei Shoigu held talks with Pezeshkian and his Iranian counterpart in Tehran.
Earlier this month, the Guardian newspaper reported the US and UK are concerned that Russia has been helping Iran develop its nuclear weapons program in exchange for the recent delivery of ballistic missiles it was provided by Tehran for use in its war against Ukraine, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Iran is now producing uranium close to weapons-grade levels, after the collapse of its nuclear deal with world powers. It has enough enriched uranium for “several” nuclear weapons if it chooses to produce them, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency repeatedly has warned.
Reuters contributed to this report.
