Russian President Vladimir Putin was set to meet his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian for the first time on Friday, as relations between the two sanctioned nations warm and the Middle East braces for Israel’s response to Tehran’s largest-ever missile attack last week.

During the two presidents' meeting, Putin told Pezeshkian that Moscow and Tehran's positions on international events are often very close, according to Russian state news agency Tass. He also invited the Iranian leader to visit Russia and Pezeshkian accepted, Tass said.

Russia's Vladimir Putin held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday in Turkmenistan, where the two leaders hailed their countries growing economic ties and similar views on world affairs,

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met in Turkmenistan on Friday for their first in-person meeting since the latter took office over the summer. The two countries have a growing military relationship that has occurred against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.