ALWAGHT- President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed appreciation for Russia’s backing of Iran’s enrichment rights and reiterated Tehran’s steadfast position against developing nuclear arms.
President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin that Iran has never sought, and will never pursue, nuclear weapons, citing the country’s ideological and defense principles. Putin reiterated Russia’s support for Iran’s right to enrich uranium and voiced hope for positive outcomes from talks on UN Security Council Resolution 2231.
The two leaders also discussed regional and international issues. Pezeshkian welcomed the agreements reached between Putin and US President Donald Trump at their Alaska summit, expressing hope they would accelerate a settlement of the Ukraine crisis. He also stressed Iran’s commitment to advancing projects such as the Rasht–Astara railway, part of the International North-South Transport Corridor.
Highlighting regional cooperation, Pezeshkian emphasized the role of organizations such as the Eurasian Economic Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS in countering unilateralism. He voiced concern over a US-brokered peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan that grants Washington exclusive rights to develop a transport corridor through Armenia’s Syunik province, warning it could alter the geopolitical balance of the South Caucasus. Instead, he advocated for the “3+3” cooperation format involving Iran, Russia, and regional states.
Putin, for his part, briefed Pezeshkian on the outcomes of the Alaska summit, saying the Ukraine issue could be resolved if the agreements are implemented. He praised the steady growth of Iran-Russia ties, noting an 11 percent rise in trade this year, and highlighted progress in joint projects, including the Rasht–Astara railway and continued cooperation on the Bushehr nuclear power plant.