Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday and praised the “very close” relations between Russia and Iran.
The talks came as Iran prepares for Israel's response to the missile attack on Tel Aviv earlier this week.
“We are actively cooperating on the international stage and our assessments of world events are often very close,” Putin said, Russia's state-run TASS news agency reported.
Cooperation between the two sanctioned countries is causing new alarm in the West. U.S. officials have said the Iranian government is supplying Moscow with ballistic missiles for use in the fight against Ukraine.
In return, Russia is suspected of providing sensitive nuclear technology to Iran as it moves closer to becoming a fully nuclear-armed state.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (left) on Friday and praised the “very close” relations between Russia and Iran.
“Russia is the world's largest nuclear power. When it comes to nuclear weapons, especially tactical warheads, they have an advantage over the United States, and they can clearly share that,” said Rebecca Koffler, a former senior defense intelligence official. Agency (DIA) and author of “”President Putin's playbook,” he told FOX News Digital.
“Nuclear weapons are not the only capability, they are strategic capabilities of concern. There are also cyber weapons and space weapons,” she said.
Former President Donald Trump launched the U.S. Space Force in August 2019 to counter the space capabilities of Russia and China.
“Russia once again possesses one of the most robust anti-space weapons in the world and has a developed and mature space warfare doctrine,” Koffler continued.
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“Nuclear weapons don't work without satellites. Whatever Iran has now, no matter how close they are in terms of actual capability development, they can't do anything without a satellite network. Neither targeting nor command Nothing can override an adversary's command and control capabilities, such as control or missile warning, and although there is no definitive analysis, Russia can and probably has provided them to Iran to some extent. Dew. ”
During the rally, Putin reportedly supported Pezeshkian's condemnation of Israel. Pezeshkian said Israel “must stop killing innocent people” and criticized the United States and the European Union for supporting Israel in the war.
The two met on the sidelines of an international conference in Turkmenistan. According to the state-run RIA news agency, Mr. Pezeskian has agreed to visit Russia's prime minister in Russia.
Iran's state-run IRNA news agency quoted Pezeshkian as telling Putin: “Our communications are becoming stronger and stronger day by day, both economically and culturally.”
“The growing trend of cooperation between Iran and Russia must be accelerated in order to strengthen relations, taking into account the intentions of the leaders of both countries,” he said.
The talks came as Iran prepares for Israel's response to the missile attack on Tel Aviv earlier this week.
Israel used to have close ties with Russia, but Russia now views Israel as an ally of the United States. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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Koffler said the meeting marked a complete change of direction for Putin, who had previously been “the most pro-Israel president in Russian history.” But Russia and Iran face tough sanctions from the US
Approximately 20% of Israel's Jewish population are immigrants from Russia. “Traditionally, Jews are very smart, highly educated, and highly employable. And because Russia has a demographic problem, President Putin ideally wants to encourage Jews, their children, and grandchildren to return to Russia. We hope that they will come,” Koffler explained.
The Israeli prime minister initially resisted giving arms to Ukraine in case Russia invaded. But the Pentagon last year tapped into a little-known stockpile of American weapons stored in Israel to defend Israel in response to a request for artillery from Ukraine.
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The United States has provided more than $100 billion in arms aid to Ukraine during the war. Russia views Israel, which is also armed with US supplies, as squarely in the US camp.
“It wasn't Iran that pushed Russia. Iran has no influence. Russia has always been at the forefront in this relationship,” Koffler said. “But it is Russia that has turned toward Iran as a result of the Biden administration’s policies.”
