Russian President Vladimir Putin is all set to meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for the first time at Turkmenistan's Ashgabat on Friday, a significant event considering the current conflict in West Asia.
The meeting is reportedly being held on the sidelines of an event to celebrate the 300th birthday of Magtymguly Pyragy, a Turkmen philosopher born in 1724. The event will have a handful of central Asian leaders attending it, but the limelight is certainly on the high-profile Putin-Pezeshkian meeting.
Yury Ushakov, Putin’s aide on foreign policy, told journalists on Monday that the meeting has great significance, both for discussing bilateral issues. "As well as, of course, discussing the sharply escalated situation in the Middle East," Ushakov added. His words reassert the current bonhomie shared by Moscow and Tehran, since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Iran has been supplying Russia with lethal drones and ballistic missiles, thereby aiding in the Russian assault on Ukraine, though both countries have not openly confirmed the pact.
Meanwhile, analysts believe Russia could be moving closer to Iran and the unconfirmed reports claim it has sent fighter jets and missile defence systems to Iran. If not, Iran might extract its due from Putin.
Though Russia has slammed the West for its alleged role in the worsening crisis in the Middle East, Iran might want more. Local Iranian media has not minced words when it demanded Putin do more. A report that appeared in Ettelaat blamed Putin for "abandoning" Iran in Gaza, and for "maintaining his distance from the crisis". It also demanded that the Kremlin deliver the sophisticated S-400 missile defence systems to Iran so that it help the country in diplomatic and military negotiations with other countries.
Analysts with the US-based Institute for the Study of War also say Putin and Pezeshkian might discuss Tehran's response to "potential Israeli retaliation" for Tehran’s missile attack last week.
But, Russia wouldn't want to antagonise Israel. "I think that would be too much in terms of antagonising America and Israel. Russia is also still desperately trying to keep Israel away from funding Ukraine," said Stephen Hall, an assistant professor of Russian politics at the University of Bath told The Telegraph.
Many believe Russia would benefit from the chaos in West Asia as it could take away Washington's attention and supplies from Ukraine. However, the Kremlin could still avert damaging its ties to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel.