Russian president Vladimir Putin is in Tehran to participate in Syria talks. Putin will also visit Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
Putin has started a visit to Iran yesterday to participate in an Astana Format talks on Syria alongside his Turkish and Iranian counterparts. Since Putin launched the war against Ukraine five months ago, the Russian leader has made very few foreign visits.
While Putin, Raisi, and Erdogan mean to issue a unified declaration on Syria, bilateral discussions on the conflict in Ukraine may garner more attention internationally. Turkey has been discussing with the two sides of war on a potential agreement to open Black Sea ports for the shipment of millions of tons of Ukrainian grain. The move might reduce rising global costs and the worsening food issue in many developing nations.
According to a Russian policy adviser, Putin and Erdogan will certainly talk about Ukrainian grain shipments and work on the matter is quite actively progressing. Yuri Ushakov stated that Tehran and the Kremlin will also talk about the fullest spectrum of economic challenges, including settlement in national currencies, considering the fact that both economies are subject to severe American sanctions.
Putin intends to talk with Raisi on the ongoing multiparty negotiations aimed at restoring the 2015 global nuclear deal. A memorandum of understanding on joint partnerships on projects valued at about $40 billion was signed by the Iranian National Oil Company and the Russian Gazprom.
The contract includes the development of 2 gas reserves and 6 oil fields. Additionally, it entails the development of the Iran LNG Export station, the building of gas pipelines, and gas and goods exchanges.
The UN, war sides, and Turkey as broker asserted days ago that the grain discussions in Turkey had gone well. Tehran meetings may further facilitate the agreement.
Erdogan before Putin
A day earlier, the Recep Tayyip Erdogan landed in the Tehran leading of a big team that included some of his ministers. Iranian president gave his Turkish counterpart a formal greeting at the Saadabad presidential palace today.
After the negotiations, Tehran and Ankara inked eight accords. A 20-year partnership agreement was purportedly included in one of the contracts. In a joint news conference, the two heads of government declared their intention to increase bilateral commerce to the unprecedented volume of $30 billion.
Erdogan also met with Ayatollah Khamenei in a visit accompanied by his Iranian counterpart. Turkish president has been cautioned not to begin a fresh military intervention in Syria by the Iranian leader.
Iranian Supreme Leader was cited as stating that a new military campaign would harm Syria, Turkey and other regional nations. Tehran will definitely collaborate” with Ankara in the battle against terrorism, according to Ayatollah Khamenei. He asserted, however, that a fresh operation in Syrian soils would serve the interests of terrorists who are not factions of various convoluted groups.
Erdogan was comforted by Khamenei’s remarks that Iran addresses the Turkish safety and security at its borders. Discussion is the only way to find a solution to the Syrian conflict. Erdogan stated that Western nations including the United States and EU powers assist and equip “terrorist” organizations in the area.
Tehran and Ankara have provided support for the opposing sides of conflict in Syria. Nevertheless, they have collaborated on agreements that have lessened the conflict’s ferocity while solidifying their positions in the country.
Erdogan’s visit to the Iranian Supreme Leader will be followed by another by the Russian president. Observers believe that the visits have a focal role in the outcome of the ensuing summit and the future of Syria and the region.
