As Washington weighs a return to full-scale war against Iran, Moscow is bringing Tehran to the table with its Eurasian neighbors. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Oct. 7, Putin’s birthday, and met in person on Oct. 8 in Turkmenistan during the annual summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

During their Oct. 7, the two presidents stressed the need to maintain and strengthen bilateral and strategic cooperation, according to IRNA. Putin said cooperation under the two countries’ Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty was continuing despite ongoing developments in the region. He praised the resilience of the Iranian people in the face of attacks, saying Iran’s courage had drawn admiration internationally. The two also discussed diplomatic efforts by some countries to reduce tensions in the region; Putin said Russia supports such initiatives and is ready to assist.

Then on Oct. 8, the two presidents sat down for a bilateral meeting. According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ summary, Putin noted the positive growth in bilateral relations between Iran and Russia, referencing the 21% growth in trade over the course of 2025. “Progress in the economic sphere is certainly positive,” he said, adding that “Overall, our relations are growing stronger.” He asked Pezeshkian to convey his best wishes to Iran’s Supreme Leader “for his well-being and every success.”