TEHRAN- Iran’s deputy foreign minister for political affairs has held talks with Hamas representatives in Moscow, saying that Tehran’s “priority is an immediate cease-fire, providing assistance to the people and lifting the repressive blockade of Gaza.”

Ali Bagheri Kani made the suggestions on Thursday during a meeting with Abu Marzouk, a Hamas Politburo member.

The Israeli regime has cut water, food, medicine and fuel to the besieged Gaza since the Operation Al-Aqsa Storm by Hamas against Israel. 

Tehran, Moscow prioritize 3+3 cooperation in the Caucasus

Also on Thursday, Iran and Russia’s deputy foreign ministers met in Moscow to discuss the Caucasus, prioritizing the 3+3 format meeting in Tehran with the goal of promoting peace and stability in the region without outside intervention.

Bagheri Kani and Mikhail Galuzin also addressed a wide variety of issues concerning Iran-Russia cooperation.

Both parties also discussed the current events in the South Caucasus, emphasizing the need for maintaining the 3+3 cooperation format. 

They also underscored the need to continue to work together within that framework.

Additionally, Bagheri Kani held talks with Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister for North and South American countries. They exchanged views for cooperation among BRICS countries as well as international security.

Separately on Thursday, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that a team from the Palestinian Hamas resistance group was in Moscow for negotiations. 

The group was supposed to discuss the release of international captives that Hamas is presently holding in the Gaza Strip, including Russian residents, according to TASS, citing Russia’s Foreign Ministry.

In an effort to resolve regional disputes free from outside intervention, the three South Caucasus nations of Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan as well as Russia, Turkey, and Iran formed the 3+3 consultative platform.

The first 3+3 meeting was held in Moscow in December 2021 at the level of deputy foreign ministers and without the presence of Georgia.

The second was held on October 23 in Tehran, with the foreign ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Russia, and Turkey in attendance.