Major General Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, spoke to reporters in Russia this Thursday evening, stating: "This visit was originally scheduled for about a month ago but was delayed due to military developments in the region. The Supreme Leader emphasized that I should deliver his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as possible."

He added: "In turn, Mr. Putin asked me to convey his very warm and sincere regards to the Supreme Leader."

Consultations on Key Regional Issues and the Post-War Period

The representative of the Supreme Leader and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council noted: "During the meeting with the Russian President, we consulted on significant regional issues as well as critical matters concerning the post-war period—specifically regarding regional security arrangements."

Referring to the quadrilateral meeting held in Tehran—involving the Islamic Republic of Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey—he stated: "I presented a report on this meeting. Mr. Putin welcomed the initiative, affirming that—much like our Chinese friends—we believe regional arrangements should be established, and that foreign powers should not interfere in the region's security."

Pursuing Major Bilateral Projects

Rezaei further mentioned that the meeting addressed the advancement of key bilateral projects, stating: "The Supreme National Security Council has approved the implementation agreement for the construction of the Rasht–Astara railway line, with the participation of the Russian side. The Minister of Roads and Urban Development is set to sign this agreement shortly on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran." He added that, in addition to the construction of this railway line, discussions were held regarding the establishment of a gas pipeline from Russia to Iran—a project that would both help address the country’s gas shortages and enable Iran to sell Russian gas to neighboring nations.

He noted that, overall, significant discussions took place with Mr. Putin concerning the future relationship between the two countries.

Putin Emphasizes Need for a Swift End to the War Against Iran

In response to a question regarding whether the meeting included discussions on joint cooperation to restore regional stability and end the war, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council stated: "During this meeting, the Russian President strongly condemned the military attack on Iran by the United States and the Zionist regime, as well as the bombing of our country's nuclear sites."

He added: "Mr. Putin explicitly stated that the military aggression against Iran was an unjust war and must be brought to an end as soon as possible. The Russian President further indicated that Russia stands ready to provide any assistance within its capacity to help end this conflict."

Rezaei noted: "We informed Mr. Putin that, regarding diplomacy, we have presented the Americans with seven conditions. Unless the Americans fulfill these seven conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will not be reopened, nor will any negotiations take place. The current diplomatic engagement is aimed solely at ensuring the Americans uphold our rights."

He pointed out: "Should the Americans meet our seven conditions, it would signal their willingness to alter their behavior."

The Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, noting that discussions with the Russian President covered regional security arrangements and the conclusion of the war, remarked: "While Mr. Putin did not put forward any specific proposals in this regard, he did observe that bringing an early end to the current 'neither war nor peace' situation would be in your country's best interest."