Russian President Vladimir Putin will go to Tehran on Tuesday for talks with Iranian Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Kremlin chief's first journey exterior the previous Soviet Union since Moscow's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.
In Tehran, Putin may also maintain his first face-to-face assembly for the reason that invasion with a NATO chief, Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan, to debate a deal aimed toward permitting the resumption of Ukraine's Black Sea grain exports in addition to peace in Syria.
Putin's journey, which comes simply days after U.S. President Joe Biden visited Israel and Saudi Arabia, sends a powerful message to the West about Moscow's plans to forge nearer strategic ties with Iran, China and India within the face of the Western sanctions.
"The contact with Khamenei is essential," Yuri Ushakov, Putin's international coverage adviser, informed reporters in Moscow. "A trusting dialogue has developed between them on a very powerful points on the bilateral and worldwide agenda."
"On most points, our positions are shut or an identical."
Putin may also meet Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi who was elected final 12 months.
BOTH SANCTIONED
For Iran, additionally chafing beneath Western financial sanctions and at loggerheads with america over Tehran's nuclear programme and a spread of different points, Putin's go to is well timed.
The spectre of an rising U.S.-backed Gulf Arab-Israeli bloc that might tilt the Center East steadiness of energy additional away from Iran has accelerated its clerical rulers' efforts to strengthen strategic relations with the Kremlin.
"Contemplating the evolving geopolitical ties after the Ukraine battle, the (clerical) institution tries to safe Moscow's help in Tehran's confrontation with Washington and its regional allies," stated a senior Iranian official, who requested to not be named.
Emboldened by excessive oil costs for the reason that Ukraine battle, Iran is betting that with Russia's help it may stress Washington to supply concessions for the revival of a 2015 nuclear deal.
"We want a powerful ally and Moscow is a superpower," stated a senior Iranian official, who requested to not be recognized.
Nonetheless, Russia's elevated tilt in the direction of Beijing in latest months has considerably decreased Iran's crude exports to China - a key supply of revenue for Tehran since U.S. President Donald Trump reimposed sanctions in 2018.
In Could, Reuters reported that Iran's crude exports to China have fallen sharply as Beijing favoured closely discounted Russian barrels, leaving virtually 40 million barrels of Iranian oil saved on tankers at sea in Asia and looking for patrons.
SYRIA, UKRAINE
Excessive on the agenda in Tuesday's trilateral talks that may also embrace Turkey can be efforts to scale back violence in Syria, the place Erdogan has threatened to launch extra navy operations to increase 30-km (20-mile) deep "secure zones" alongside the border. Moscow and Tehran each oppose any such motion by Turkey.
Russia and Iran are Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s strongest backers, whereas Turkey helps anti-Assad insurgents.
Putin, who turns 70 this 12 months, has made few international journeys lately because of the COVID pandemic after which the Ukraine disaster. His final journey past the previous Soviet Union was to China in February.
His bilateral talks with Erdogan will give attention to a plan to get Ukrainian grain exports shifting once more.
"The talks will attempt to clear up the problems on grain exports," stated a senior Turkish official was requested anonymity.
Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations are anticipated to signal a deal later this week aimed toward resuming the delivery of grain from Ukraine throughout the Black Sea.
Any Turkish operation in Syria would assault the Kurdish YPG militia, a key a part of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that controls massive elements of north Syria and is regarded by Washington as an essential ally towards Islamic State.
The senior Turkish official stated Turkey's deliberate operation could be mentioned, as would stories that Russia and the Kurds had been appearing collectively in some areas of Syria.
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