Iran security chief Rezaei meets Putin in Moscow, delivers Khamenei letter
Rezaei says the talks covered post-war security arrangements and energy cooperation, as Tehran rules out negotiations with Washington until seven conditions are met.
At a glance
- Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei met Vladimir Putin in Moscow and delivered a letter from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
- Rezaei said the talks covered regional security, post-war arrangements and plans for Russian gas pipelines to Iran.
- Tehran will not negotiate with Washington on ending the war until the US meets seven conditions, Rezaei said.
Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday to discuss regional security, and delivered a letter to Putin from Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, according to the Iranian state broadcaster Press TV.
Rezaei, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the talks covered security arrangements in the region and Russia's support for ending what he called the US's "aggression" against Iran.
"Important regional issues were discussed with Putin and significant conversations took place regarding the post-war period and regional security arrangements," he said.
Energy and regional diplomacy
He said other topics included deepening energy cooperation, including building gas pipelines from Russia to Iran. He said the project aimed to address Iran's gas shortages and enable Russia to sell gas to countries neighbouring Iran.
Rezaei said he briefed Putin on a meeting held in Tehran in late October among Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan, and that the Russian leader had welcomed it.
"Like our Chinese friends, we believe that there should be regional arrangements and that foreign countries should not interfere in the security of the region," he said.
Rezaei said Khamenei had wanted the message delivered to Putin as soon as possible. The Moscow trip had been planned nearly a month earlier but was postponed because of "daily discussions about the military situation in the region". He did not say what the message contained.
In a written statement on Wednesday, Khamenei said there should not be "even the slightest inclination towards submission" to the US, and called for an "ever stronger" Iran to reach a "point of absolute deterrence".
US talks ruled out for now
Rezaei said Tehran would not hold talks with Washington on ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz until the US meets seven conditions it has announced.
"As long as they do not execute our seven conditions, we will neither open the Strait of Hormuz nor have negotiations," he said.
The visit came as Qatar steps up diplomatic efforts to end the war on Iran, amid fears the US could renew attacks following its midterm elections. In Tuesday's vote, US President Donald Trump's Republican Party lost control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate amid widespread anger over rising prices that many blame on the war on Iran.
Efforts to end the conflict have centred on the future status of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a US blockade of Iranian ports, sanctions against Iran, and a resumption of negotiations over the country's nuclear programme.
The Kremlin did not immediately release its own account of the meeting, which Russia's TASS news agency said took place in the Senate Palace. Separately, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held phone calls with his counterparts in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Turkiye and Jordan, focused on regional developments and diplomatic efforts to promote peace, Iranian state media reported.
Russia and Iran, both under heavy Western sanctions, have strengthened their diplomatic and military ties in recent years. In January 2025 they signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty covering trade, military cooperation, science, culture and education. It took effect that October, but unlike Russia's pact with North Korea it does not include a mutual defence clause.
On Saturday, Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said Iran had bought Russian Su-35 fighter jets and expected to receive them after the war ends, telling the Iranian news site Tabnak that the planes were originally supposed to arrive before the fighting began and that preparations and pilot training were complete.
Source: Al Jazeera.
Questions and answers
- What did Iran's security chief discuss with Putin in Moscow?
- Mohsen Rezaei said the talks covered regional security arrangements, the post-war period, Russia's support for ending the war, and deeper energy cooperation including gas pipelines from Russia to Iran.
- Will Iran negotiate with the US to end the war?
- Rezaei said Tehran will neither open the Strait of Hormuz nor hold negotiations until the US executes seven conditions Iran has announced.
- What was in the letter Rezaei delivered to Putin?
- Rezaei did not say what the message from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei contained. He said Khamenei wanted it delivered to Putin as soon as possible.
