Russian President Vladimir Putin met Iran’s national security chief Mohsen Rezaei in Moscow on Thursday, November 5. Iranian media reported that Rezaei delivered a message from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, but its contents were not made public.
The Kremlin confirmed the meeting but did not provide details, according to the Associated Press. Iran’s Tasnim news agency also reported the message delivery, citing state broadcaster IRIB.
Rezaei described the meeting as an “extremely important exchange of views” covering the post-war situation and regional security. He said Putin stressed the need for regional security mechanisms and opposed outside powers interfering in efforts to resolve the Middle East situation.
The meeting was not announced in advance. It followed talks between Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Moscow the previous week, during a summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum.
Energy and transport projects discussed
Rezaei said the two sides discussed building gas pipelines from Russia to Iran. He described the project as a way to address Iranian gas shortages and enable Russia to sell gas to neighboring countries, according to Euronews.
He also said Iran’s Supreme National Security Council had approved an executive agreement for Russia’s participation in the Rasht–Astara railway project. Iran’s roads and urban development minister was expected to sign the contract, Rezaei said.
The railway section is just over 160 kilometers long and forms the remaining link in the western route of the International North-South Transport Corridor, intended to connect Russia with Iranian ports on the Persian Gulf.
Clayton Ward 
Nicole French