This year’s meeting of the nine-nation Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Heads of State Meeting, on its 35th anniversary, was addressed by Masoud Pezeshkian, President of Iran, an invited guest nation this year. He had important bilateral meetings, including with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and addressed the group meeting as well. On the Oct. 9 call between Putin and President Trump, Putin briefed Trump on his meeting with Pres. Pezeshkian.

In his CIS speech, Pezeshkian stressed Iran’s strategic role: “For Central Asia, the Islamic Republic of Iran is not merely a partner, it is a national route connecting Central Asia and Eurasia to open waters. Iran’s southern ports in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, especially Chabahar, can connect this region to South Asia, Africa, and Europe.” He pointed out that the North-South and East-West corridors of trade and development are complementary, not competitive. He called for coordinated arrangements to further energy, financial settlements, and other economic activity. To institutionalize this, he proposed that a “CIS+1” be created to include participation of Iran.