Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in Tehran on Tuesday where he will meet with senior Iranian defense officials, Iranian state news agency IRNA reported.
Shoigu’s first planned meeting is with Iran’s top military commander, Mohammad Bagheri, who serves as the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, IRNA said.
During the meeting with Bagheri, discussions are expected to revolve around various topics, including “the development of defense diplomacy, expansion of bilateral cooperation, as well as dealing with common threats and international terrorism,” according to IRNA.
Shoigu will also meet with his Iranian counterpart, the semi-official Tasnim news agency earlier reported.
Over the past year, Russia and Iran, both subject to international sanctions, have forged strong ties across multiple sectors, with a particular emphasis on military collaboration.
Ukraine and its Western allies have accused Iran of supplying weapons to Russia for use in its ongoing war against Kyiv. Tehran denies the allegations.
Earlier this month, Iranian media reported that the country’s air force had taken delivery of a shipment of Russian YAK-130 training aircraft, aimed at enhancing the training and combat capabilities of its air force.
In May, the United States voiced concern that Tehran and Moscow were “expanding their unprecedented defense partnership.”
Source: Al Arabiya