Iran’s Supreme Leader Meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin
On the evening of the 19th local time, Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei met with visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tehran.
Khamenei said that Iran and Russia should continue to strengthen cooperation in various fields, which is of great benefit to the two countries, especially in the context of the unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States and the West on Iran and Russia, the economic cooperation between the two countries is in the interests of both countries. At present, the two sides have signed a number of memorandums of understanding, especially in the field of oil and gas, which should be implemented.
Regarding the current situation in Ukraine, Khamenei said that the West is unwilling to see a strong and independent Russia. NATO is a dangerous presence, and if NATO is allowed to expand, they will be more ambitious. No one approves of war, Putin said, but the actions of the West leave Russia with no choice but to respond. When it comes to the Western sanctions against Russia, Putin said that the sanctions will lead to rising oil prices and food supply crisis, and the West will suffer the consequences.
Turning to the Syrian issue, Khamenei said the US still occupies oil-rich land east of the Euphrates River in Syria, and the problem should be resolved by expelling the US from the region. Putin pointed out that Russia, like Iran, opposes any military operation in northern Syria, emphasizing that the Syrian army should control the land on the east bank of the Euphrates.
Khamenei agreed to use the national currency or other currencies to replace the US dollar for economic and trade activities. Putin said the U.S. misuse of the U.S. dollar tool to sanction and plunder other countries will weaken the U.S. dollar’s credit and prompt other countries to use alternative currencies.
(Headquarters reporter Ni Zihui)