Iran has broached the possibility of getting Russia's help to build a nuclear power plant during talks in Moscow. President Masoud Pezeshkian travelled to the Russian capital to meet President Vladimir Putin on Friday, when they signed a 20-year strategic partnership treaty.
It was Mr Pezeshkian's first visit to the Kremlin since winning presidency last July, but his third meeting with the Russian leader. He said that he hoped the two leaders might be able to finalise an agreement on building a nuclear power plant in Iran with Russian help.
Mr Pezeshkian added: "We do consider our relations with you as vital, sensitive and strategic, and we are on this path strongly.". Mr Putin said work on a potential gas pipeline to carry Russian gas to Iran was progressing despite difficulties, and that,despite delays in building new nuclear reactors for Iran, Moscow was open to potentially taking on more nuclear projects.
In an apparent swipe at the US, the Iranian leader also said regional problems should be defused by countries in the Middle East only. Russia is about to sign a pact with Iran - should the West be worried?. Donald Trump's 'all hell will break loose' Gaza warning risks becoming less threatening.
Italian journalist Cecilia Sala detained by Iranian police while reporting from Tehran, officials say. "They come from another side of the world to make chaos in the region," he said. "These ties will defuse their plot, definitely.". The agreement is not expected to include a mutual defence clause, like the kind Russia signed with North Korea, but is likely to concern the West nonetheless.
