Iran security chief meets Putin in Moscow amid gas pipeline talks
Iran's top security official has met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and delivered a personal message from Iran's supreme leader, according to the latest confirmed details from the visit. The meeting was not announced in advance and took place as the two sides discussed regional security and possible energy cooperation. It adds a new layer to already close ties between Moscow and Tehran at a time of wider conflict in the region.
More from 360LiveNews Opinion
The Iranian official, identified as the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said the talks covered what he described as strengthening ties, the post-war situation and regional security. He also said the construction of gas pipelines from Russia to Iran was discussed. According to his account, the project would help Iran address gas shortages while also allowing Russian gas to be sold to neighbouring countries.
The content of the message from Iran's supreme leader was not made public. Iranian state broadcaster reported that the message was delivered directly to Putin during the Moscow meeting. The visit followed Putin's recent talks with Iran's president in Moscow during a summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, suggesting the diplomatic contact between the two governments has continued at a high level.
The energy element of the talks is significant because Iran, despite being a major natural gas producer, has long faced shortages. Those shortages have worsened since the war in Iran began in late February, when Tehran says critical infrastructure, including gas processing plants, was struck during the most intense phase of the conflict. Iran has also said it responded by attacking US military facilities and other interests in the wider Middle East, while both sides imposed blockades of the Strait of Hormuz.
More from 360LiveNews Opinion
The meeting also matters because Russia and Iran have deepened cooperation during the wider regional conflict. Tehran has backed Moscow in its war against Ukraine and supplied Shahed drone technology, which Russia has adapted for use in its own Geran drones. Russia has also been described as a long-standing supporter of Iran, including through intelligence and equipment support during the war.
That background gives added weight to any discussion of security coordination or energy deals between the two capitals. What remains unclear is whether the Moscow talks produced any concrete agreement on the gas pipeline project or on broader regional security issues. It is also not known what was contained in the message from Iran's supreme leader.
Further statements from Moscow or Tehran would be needed to show whether the meeting leads to practical diplomatic or energy steps in the coming days.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has met Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei in Moscow for talks focused on regional security and the wider fallout from the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Rezaei said he also delivered a letter to Putin from Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei during the visit. The meeting took place as diplomatic efforts intensified around the conflict and possible post-war arrangements.
More from 360LiveNews Opinion
According to Rezaei, the discussions covered security arrangements in the region, Russia's support for ending what he described as US aggression against Iran, and the post-war period. He said the trip to Moscow had been planned nearly a month earlier but was delayed because of daily discussions about the military situation in the region. Rezaei also said Khamenei had wanted the message delivered to Putin as soon as possible.
The talks also touched on energy cooperation, including possible plans to build gas pipelines from Russia to Iran. Rezaei said the meeting included significant conversations about regional security and the future shape of the conflict. The timing of the visit suggests Moscow remains a key channel for Iranian diplomacy as Tehran seeks support from major powers.
The meeting comes at a sensitive moment for the wider region, with Qatar also stepping up diplomatic efforts to help end the war. The conflict has raised questions about the future status of the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions on Iran, and the resumption of negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme. Those issues have made security talks between Tehran and Moscow more significant, particularly as both countries face pressure from Western governments.
Khamenei said in a written statement on Wednesday that there should not be "even the slightest inclination towards submission" to the United States. He also called for an "ever stronger" Iran to reach a point of "absolute deterrence". Rezaei said Tehran would not hold talks with Washington on ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz until the US meets seven demands, although he did not set out those conditions in the reported remarks.
What remains unclear is how much practical progress the Moscow meeting produced, and whether it will lead to any concrete diplomatic or energy agreements. It is also not known whether the letter from Khamenei will prompt further direct engagement between Russian and Iranian officials. The next developments to watch are any follow-up statements from Moscow or Tehran, and whether regional mediation efforts gain traction in the coming days.
