“I am very happy to be on the hospitable Iranian soil…We can boast of record numbers in terms of trade development,” Putin said in a bilateral meeting with Raisi. “We are strengthening our cooperation in international security matters, contributing significantly to the settlement of the Syrian conflict.” Raisi also welcomed a “significant” commitment to security cooperation between the two countries. “There has been good experience of the two countries in fighting terrorism, which I think has brought security to the region,” he said. Russia’s relationship with Iran has alarmed Western officials as it prepares to step up ground offensives in eastern Ukraine after its troops seized the Luhansk region. Recently declassified US intelligence shows that Iran is expected to supply Russia with “hundreds” of unmanned aerial vehicles — including weapons-capable drones — for use in the war in Ukraine, as Iran prepares to begin training Russian forces to how to handle them as early as late July, according to White House officials. “Russia turning to Iran for help speaks volumes about the extent to which both nations, for their actions in different parts of the world, have become increasingly isolated from the international community,” strategic communications coordinator told CNN of the National Security Council John Kirby. Last week. Putin’s trip to Iran will also see him face-to-face with Erdogan — the leader of NATO member Turkey — and comes after Erdogan repeated his threat to block Sweden and Finland from joining the alliance after agreeing conditional on green light their offer in June. “I would like to remind you once again that we will freeze the process if they do not take the necessary steps to fulfill our conditions,” Erdogan said Monday after a cabinet meeting. He voiced his opposition to the expansion at a NATO summit last month — a major diplomatic breakthrough that dealt a blow to Putin. Putin and Erdogan are to discuss the issue of grain exports from Ukrainian ports, the Kremlin said ahead of the trip, according to state news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS. The visit comes amid Ukrainian claims that more than 20 million tonnes of grain remain stuck in Ukraine due to Russia’s blockade of various Black Sea ports. “The work is very active. You know that on July 13 the first quadripartite meeting on grain was held in Istanbul with the participation of representatives of Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN. We are ready to continue work on this part, this the work will continue,” the aide to the Russian President, Yuri Ushakov, said in a briefing, according to RIA.
Khamenei warns Erdogan against military campaign in Syria
Ahead of the summit, Khamenei warned Erdogan against launching a military operation in northern Syria, state news agency IRNA also reported.
“A military attack on northern Syria would be at the expense of Turkey and would benefit the terrorists,” Khamenei reportedly told Erdogan in Tehran.
His warning came amid threats by Erdogan to launch a new military offensive to push back Syrian Kurdish fighters belonging to the YPG, which Turkey considers a terrorist group.
“This move would certainly harm Syria, Turkey and the region and will not generate the expected political action from the Syrians,” Khamenei warned.
“The Syrian issue should be resolved through negotiations and Iran, Turkey, Syria and Russia will hold discussions on this issue,” he added.
CNN’s Mostafa Salem, Abdul Nasir, Ramin Mostaghim and Adam Pourahmadi contributed to this report.
