TEHRAN – President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran held talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Thursday afternoon.

At the meeting, the Iranian president said it is “essential” to immediately stop the Israeli “genocide” in the Gaza Strip.

“What is happening in Gaza is a genocide and crime against humanity and it is the cause of pain and worry that more than 6000 children have been martyred at the hands of the Zionist regime,” Raisi pointed out.

He also said what is more painful is that the United States and other Western countries are backing the Zionist regime in its crimes in Gaza and the international bodies and the self-proclaimed human rights organizations have lost their relevance.

The Iranian president said the cruelty against the people of Gaza has “turned into the greatest headache for humanity in today’s world”.

He added, “Gaza is a land in which one child is martyred every 10 minutes.”

The president went on to say that unilateralism and unfair global order are “causing pain for humanity” that an example of which can be clearly noticed in the war on Gaza.

Raisi lauds growing ties between Tehran and Moscow  

Elsewhere in his remarks, Raisi said Iran and Russia have established good cooperation in areas of energy, agriculture, and knowledge-based companies and “better steps can be taken in line with the interests of the two countries and nations.”

Expressing delight over the growing ties, Raisi said cooperation with Russia is “highly important” in line with Iran’s “policy of neighborliness.”

For his part, the Russian president said it is important that “today we are exchanging views on regional issues, especially the Palestine issue.”

Putin also said Russia plans to sign a free trade agreement with Iran within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union.

The Russian leader also said, “The relations between the two countries is increasing rapidly.” Putin also sent his “best wishes” to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, saying Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is backing the consolidation of ties between the two countries.  

“Relations between the two countries is at its best level and we believe that these relations will become more widespread and more dynamic with the backings of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution,” Putin noted.

New chapter in ties

Putin also expressed joy that the value of trade ties between Russia and Iran has increased 20 percent and reached 5 billion dollars.

This shows that a “new chapter” has been opened in the Russia-Iran ties, Putin said, adding the joint transport and railroad projects are progressing well and the previous cooperation between Iran and Russia in the areas of energy is increasing as well.

Also, the two countries have established good relationship in educational areas as Iranian students are studying in Russian universities and vice versa, he pointed out.

“We are actively pushing our works forward in all areas,” Putin noted.