Vladimir Putin vows support to Iranian counterpart to end Middle East conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Turkmenistan on Thursday ahead of a regional summit, pledging that Moscow will do everything to help resolve the conflict involving Iran. According to reports from Al Jazeera English and Al-Monitor, Russian news agencies stated that Putin offered full support to Pezeshkian during their talks. The two leaders met ahead of the Commonwealth of Independent States summit, which brings together former Soviet nations. [1][2][4]

Russian news agency Interfax reported that Putin told Pezeshkian that Russia is ready to do everything it can to resolve the situation, adding that Iran is making real efforts to end the conflict. Al-Monitor noted that Russian state news agency Tass had earlier cited Putin aide Yuri Ushakov confirming the bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the regional gathering in Turkmenistan. The leaders met as two of the most sanctioned nations in the world. [1][2][4]

Al-Monitor separately reported that Russia has provided Iran with military materiel, intelligence, and diplomatic support during the ongoing conflict. The talks covered the development of bilateral cooperation as well as the regional situation, as Tehran looks to Moscow for assistance amid tension with the United States. [2]

Vladimir Putin has served as the President of Russia since 2012, having previously held the office from 2000 to 2008 as well as serving as Prime Minister. [6]

In a separate development, artificial intelligence company OpenAI stated on Thursday that it shut down two influence operations originating from Russia and Iran. According to Al-Monitor, OpenAI reported that these operations used ChatGPT to create fake journalist personas and run a think tank aimed at covertly pushing anti-Ukraine propaganda. [3]