ByREUTERS
Updated:

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and his Iranian counterpart Aziz Nasirzadeh discussed strengthening military cooperation at a meeting in Moscow, the Russian state news agency RIA reported on Monday, citing the Iranian ambassador.

The meeting followed talks on Sunday between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on the situation in the Middle East and issues surrounding Iran's nuclear program.

Russia has a strategic partnership treaty with Iran and condemned the Israeli and US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites in June.

Defense ministers from across the world, applaud following a group photo, before the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting in Qingdao, Shandong province, China June 26, 2025.
Defense ministers from across the world, applaud following a group photo, before the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting in Qingdao, Shandong province, China June 26, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/FLORENCE LO)

Since Trump's first term, Tehran has deepened ties with Moscow 

Since the re-imposition of American sanctions on Iran during US President Donald Trump’s first term, Tehran has deepened ties with both Moscow through a 20-year strategic pact and Beijing, which buys as much as 90% of Iranian oil exports.

“The SCO is gradually opening up its place in the global arena, meaning it is gradually going beyond the regional arena, and it has many different issues on its agenda, including in the economic, political, and security fields," Araqchi wrote.