Putin, Pezeshkian discuss regional tensions as Iran faces renewed strike threat

Russian President Vladimir Putin met his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian in Moscow on Tuesday, discussing the situation in the Middle East as concerns grow over the possibility of renewed US-Israeli strikes on Iran after the US midterm elections.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the eighth summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).

Putin said the regional situation was a source of concern and expressed hope that it would develop in a positive direction. 

He also highlighted growing economic ties between the two countries, saying bilateral trade increased by 10.4% in the first eight months of 2026. Construction of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran was continuing, he added.

Pezeshkian thanked Russia for its political and economic support, saying the two countries could work together to address regional issues without relying on the United States.

"We can work on all the problems we have in the region and ... resolve all regional issues without the United States," he said. "There is no need to rely on American assistance in the region."

Putin also held talks with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Moscow on Tuesday, according to reports.

The diplomatic engagements came amid reports that the United States and Israel were preparing for the possibility of renewed military strikes against Iran after the US midterm elections on November 3.

Against this backdrop, regional countries stepped up their peace efforts. Senior officials from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan held four-way security talks in Tehran on Monday.

The meeting brought together Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council; Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman; Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir; and Ibrahim Kalin, director of the National Intelligence Organization of Türkiye.

The four countries agreed to continue dialogue on regional cooperation, including peace and security, according to a joint statement published by Iran's IRNA news agency.

Rezaei said the talks had created a positive atmosphere and argued that regional countries should work together to address their security challenges without outside interference.

Li Zixin, a Middle East expert at the China Institute of International Studies, said shared security interests had helped bring the four countries to the negotiating table. 

The talks have established a channel for communication and could support regional mediation efforts, Li said. However, he added, differences between the collective-defense commitments of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan and Iran's position in regional conflicts would limit the prospects for a fundamental breakthrough.