Moscow seeks to mediate in the war between Israel and the Palestinian resistance using its close ties to both sides.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Moscow on 7 December following his own diplomatic visits to the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Putin has described the Israel-Gaza war as a failure of US diplomacy, as his counterpart President Joe Biden has fueled it by providing unconditional military support for Israel’s assault on Gaza.
Putin suggested Moscow could be a mediator, thanks to its friendly ties with both Israel and the Palestinians. Putin maintains contacts with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and hosted a Hamas delegation following the outbreak of the war.
“It’s very important for us to exchange views of the situation in the region, particularly regarding the Palestinian situation,” Putin said as he welcomed President Raisi at the start of their talks in Moscow.
Raisi emphasized the need to immediately stop Israel’s onslaught on the Gaza Strip, declaring that “a child is killed there every 10 minutes.”
“It’s not just a regional issue, it’s an issue for the entire humankind,” he told Putin, adding that “it’s necessary to find a quick solution.”
Iran, which has been a staunch supporter of Hamas, has warned repeatedly that the war, which erupted on 7 October, could spread to other parts of the region.
Putin and Raisi previously met in Tehran in July 2022, amid Russia’s war with Ukraine. Both countries have developed closer economic and military ties since that time, as both face western sanctions.
The US has claimed Iran has provided drones to Russia for use in the war, and last month expressed concern that Tehran may also provide Moscow with ballistic missiles for use in Ukraine.
Recently, Iran finalized a deal to buy Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, and Iran is planning to buy additional military equipment from Russia, including attack helicopters, radars and combat-trainer aircraft.
Putin’s talks with Raisi come a day after the Russian leader discussed the hostilities in the Gaza Strip during his trip to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Both are close US allies but Putin has close personal ties with both UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and both countries have strong economic ties with Russia.
Both cooperate closely with Russia as part of the OPEC+ oil cartel and have coordinated oil production cuts to keep prices elevated in the past year, despite US objections.
According to Russia’s TASS news agency, Putin’s main priority during his Arab country tour was economic relations followed by the crisis in Gaza, and finally, Russia’s war in Ukraine.