Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei visited Russia, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
He delivered a personal message to the Kremlin leader from Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei regarding the war in Iran and discussed strengthening bilateral relations, Euronews reports.
According to Rezaei, the meeting focused on the post-war situation and regional security. Iranian state media have not disclosed the contents of Khamenei’s letter. In addition to security issues, officials discussed building gas pipelines from Russia to Iran. The project is intended to help Tehran overcome a gas shortage and make it easier to sell Russian fuel to neighbouring countries.
Despite being a major gas producer, Iran has long suffered from shortages, which have worsened since the start of the war with the United States and attacks on Iranian gas-processing plants.
The meeting also covered joint infrastructure projects. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has approved an agreement to build the Rasht–Astara railway with Russia’s participation, and the Minister of Roads and Urban Development is expected to sign the contract soon. The more than 160-kilometre section will complete the western route of the international North–South Transport Corridor to Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf.
At the same time, Iranian media report that Russia has prepared a $1 billion loan for Iran as the first tranche of a planned $20 billion, but the transfer of funds is being delayed due to slow progress on the railway’s construction.