President Vladimir Putin will be meeting the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei and the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. An unusual step taken by President Putin as he has limited his foreign visits since the start of his special military operation in Ukraine.
The Russian President made his first international visit in June, visiting Tajikistan and Turkmenistan which are former members of the Soviet Union and are allied to Russia.
According to a Turkish official, the three leaders have discussions on Syria, Ukraine and grain exports on their agenda.
Putin intends to deepen ties with Teheran, as both have been subjected to western sanctions and are looking for ways to counter these sanctions. Over time, both nations have become each other’s few remaining allies.
Putin’s visit to Iran
This visit shortly comes after American officials alleged that Iran is planning to supply Russia with several hundred drones for the war in Ukraine and the Russian energy giant has signed a new development deal worth $40 Million with Iran’s state-owned oil company.
“The contact with Khamenei is very important,” Yuri Ushakov, Mr Putin’s top foreign policy adviser, told a media briefing on Monday. “A trusting dialogue has developed between them on the most important issues on the bilateral and international agenda.”
For Turkey, this meeting could offer the prospect to sign an agreement between the Russians. And the Ukrainians for the export of the 22 million tonnes of grain stuck on the ships of the ports of Ukraine. As the Russian Navy has blockaded the Ukrainian coast. And the Ukrainian Navy has dispatched sea mines near the coast of Odessa to prevent a D-Day style amphibious landing.
Turkey wants to ensure the Ukrainian grain reaches its markets to eliminate its food shortages.
Despite this trilateral meeting discussing exports, trade and investments. These nations see each other on either side of the battlefield in Syria. Moreover, where the Russian and Iranian proxies are fighting the Turkish ones. And Turkey supplies Ukraine with its Bayraktar TB-2 drones. To fend off the invading Russian forces.
