Putin, in a rare personal statement, has explicitly invoked China as a guarantor, emphasizing alignment between Beijing and Moscow on core positions—offering Iran a sense of reassurance. Recently, Ali Reza Zakani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, visited Moscow for an extended meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing primarily on Middle East security and the potential for conflict between the U.S. and Iran. During the talks, Putin conveyed that both China and Russia agree on the necessity of a regional security framework in the Middle East, one that prevents foreign interference.
On November 5, Putin met with Zakani at the Kremlin. The Iranian official conveyed messages from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Sayyed Morteza Mousavi, and the two sides discussed bilateral relations and the latest developments in the region. They also addressed the ongoing project to construct a natural gas pipeline from Russia to Iran, aimed at alleviating Iran’s domestic gas shortages and enabling Russia to export gas to neighboring countries through Iranian infrastructure.
At present, China and Russia appear to share a notably consistent stance on Middle East affairs. China has put forward four key principles: promoting ceasefire and de-escalation, ensuring civilian safety, initiating dialogue and negotiations, and encouraging international efforts toward reconciliation. Meanwhile, Putin has warned that any Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities would be extremely dangerous, stressing that escalation serves no party’s interest and that the issue must be resolved through dialogue and negotiation.
Nonetheless, Russia’s security cooperation with Iran is more comprehensive and deeply institutionalized than China’s. For instance, last year Putin signed into law the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Russia and Iran, which stipulates that “if one party is subjected to aggression, the other shall not provide any assistance to the aggressor.” Russia plans to deliver 48 Su-35 fighter jets to Iran starting in 2026, valued at $6.5 billion, along with electronic warfare pods and long-range air-to-air missiles. This year alone, Putin has met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on three occasions, in addition to a phone call on November 2 and their face-to-face meeting on November 5, indicating a high level of sustained engagement.
Iran’s current strategic challenge stems largely from the impasse in U.S.-Iran tensions. On November 1, former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened “heavy retaliation,” while Israel has shown increasing military readiness. Under these conditions, Iran’s primary need is strategic depth—ensuring it does not become diplomatically isolated. Indeed, the shared position among China, Russia, and Iran on opposing external intervention and advocating for regional resolution of regional issues is clear. For Iran, this arrangement constitutes a form of diplomatic dual assurance.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881087821119495/
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