Russian President Vladimir Putin held an unannounced meeting on Friday with Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, at the Kremlin.
Larijani, a close adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution His Eminence Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei, was appointed to the post last August. His visit comes months after a previous trip to Moscow following US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
In a short statement, the Kremlin confirmed that Putin received Larijani but provided no details about the substance of the discussions. Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, later said the talks centered on bilateral relations and included consultations on key regional and international developments.
The meeting took place shortly after Washington imposed sanctions on Larijani earlier this month, accusing him of involvement in the violent suppression of anti-government protests that have spread across Iran since late December.
Iranian authorities have portrayed the unrest—initially sparked by economic grievances—as a foreign-backed uprising, claiming external actors armed rioters to provoke a severe state response and create grounds for US intervention. Earlier this month, Putin spoke by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss the situation.
During the peak of the protests, US President Donald Trump reportedly considered ordering punitive military strikes against Iran. Although no final decision has been announced, Trump has deployed a large naval force to the region to pressure Tehran into accepting his terms for a new nuclear agreement.
According to media reports citing US administration sources, military planning remains ongoing, with options said to include strikes on Iranian security forces, nuclear facilities, or even senior officials, with the stated aim of reigniting anti-government protests.
After Trump warned of an attack “far worse” than previous strikes, Iran pledged to defend itself and respond decisively. As both sides prepare military exercises in the region, concerns about escalation, miscalculation, and provocation continue to grow.
Source: Al-Ahed News
