Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to support Iran and stand against US sanctions on Tuesday during a summit aimed at rivaling America’s global influence.
Putin confirmed that Russia was working to help Tehran with its war against the US as he praised his Iranian counterpart, President Masoud Pezeshkian, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan, The Washington Post reported.
“During this difficult period, we are striving to provide you with the necessary assistance — as we have discussed — and are supplying you with essential goods,” Putin told Pezeshkian, according to the Kremlin.
Pezeshkian slammed the sanctions hitting his country and likened them to the ones slapped on Russia over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, urging the two nations to work together to undermine the penalties.
“They do not have the right to impose sanctions whenever they please, violate international law, and then commit acts of aggression,” Pezeshkian told Putin.
“We believe — and are confident — that in this way we can counter U.S. unilateralism and the unjust sanctions imposed upon us,” he added, according to the Kremlin readout.
Russia has been aiding Iran throughout the war with the US, including by providing satellite target assistance for the retaliatory attacks Tehran has repeatedly fired at military bases in the Middle East.
Moscow has also been accused of shipping parts for drones, missiles and explosives to Iran, which had previously provided Russia with its Shahed suicide drones that have shaped the war in Ukraine.
The remarks came as US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that he aims to “asphyxiate” the Iranian government with sanctions until it agrees to a deal with President Trump.
Bessent threatened to seize offshore bank accounts and luxury properties owned by Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s alleged $130 million London real estate portfolio.
Along with teaming up with Russia to undermine the US sanctions, Pezeshkian also said that Tehran would be willing to go back to the negotiating table with the US and hash out a peace deal.
The Iranian president claimed that Iran would “immediately take reciprocal action” if the US agreed to return to the terms of June’s memorandum of understanding.
