What’s behind Khamenei’s top advisor's sudden trip to Moscow to meet with Putin

Amid reports that Iran has agreed to hold talks with the UK, France, and Germany over its nuclear programme, a top advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was seen rushing to Moscow on an unannounced trip to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later told reporters about Ali Larijani’s meeting with President Putin.

While Peskov said Larijani and Putin “assessed the tense situation in the region and the conflict over Iran’s nuclear programme”, the visit, which came an hour after Iran agreed to hold talks with the European countries, holds significance.

Many believe Larijani's sudden trip to Moscow is part of Iran’s intensive diplomatic efforts to rally Russian support, especially in the wake of the non-committal stance adopted by Putin during the recent Iran-Israel war. There were reports that Putin encouraged Iran to accept a deal with the United States to completely halt uranium enrichment despite Tehran’s stance that it will not give up its right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

There are also speculations that Larijani was carrying a message from Khamenei to Putin. A week ago, an Iranian newspaper  reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi’s letter to Vladimir Putin contained a “message of complaint” from Khamenei, possibly about Russia’s stance. However, the newspaper later denied the report, writing that the statements about the content of the letter “lacked the necessary accuracy and truthfulness.”

However, there could be other discreet reasons for Larijani’s visit. There were earlier reports that the advisor had made several secret visits to Russia with the aim of strengthening Iran's military and defense capabilities, particularly in the nuclear field. He held behind-the-scenes talks with senior Russian officials to secure Moscow's support for Iran's nuclear programme and air defense systems. The choice of Larijani is also interesting as he enjoys close ties with Iranian regime officials and is known for his ability to push matters forward. 

Middle East