Iran is preparing for a visit byRussian President Vladimir Putin, Iran's government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani was quoted byRussia's state RIA news agency as saying on Monday."Putin's trip to Tehran is currently being worked out, preparations are underway," Mohajerani said.
There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin.Putin held talks with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Iran in 2022, the Kremlin leader'sfirst tripoutside the former Soviet Union after he ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.While Moscow has bought weapons from Iran for its war in Ukraine and signed a 20-year strategic partnership deal with Tehran earlier this year, their relationship since the 16th century, when Muscovy officially established relations with the Persian Empire, has at times been troubled.Iranian officials say that Moscow often talks tough but is wary of getting dragged into a major war in the Middle East, despiteRussia's foray into Syria in 2015.Unlike some dealsRussiahas struck with other countries, the strategic partnership deal signed between Iran andRussiaearlier this year did not include a mutual defense clause.