Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as Moscow and Tehran seek to deepen their strategic partnership.

During the talks, Putin said Russia and Iran have maintained the momentum of their trade and economic relations from last year, despite a difficult geopolitical and military environment, according to TASS.

The Russian president said Moscow is seeking to provide Tehran with the necessary assistance and supplies of required goods. He also said the Russian people stand in solidarity with Iranians defending their interests and admire their courage and resilience.

The leaders also discussed humanitarian cooperation, including the growing popularity of Russian higher education among Iranian students.

At the end of the meeting, Putin asked Pezeshkian to convey his greetings to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Pezeshkian, for his part, described Iran-Russia relations as strategic, saying this partnership helps Iran effectively confront the US.

The Iranian president expressed confidence that Iran would emerge victorious from the confrontation and thanked Putin for Russia’s position during the conflict between Washington and Tehran.

The meeting was attended by several senior members of the Russian government, including the heads of the Foreign Ministry, Energy Ministry, Transport Ministry and Economic Development Ministry, as well as representatives of Rosatom and the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation.

The talks marked the first face-to-face meeting between Putin and Pezeshkian since their negotiations in Turkmenistan in late 2025, adding significance to the latest discussions on bilateral and regional issues.