- Russian President Vladimir Putin looks eastward to bolster his country's standing in the region -- including with Iran -- at a major summit in Bishkek, facing increasing confrontations with the West.
- Putin is set to hold bilateral meetings with Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, among at least seven others, starting August 31 on the sidelines of the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
- Kremlin officials said Putin has at least nine bilateral meetings scheduled as Moscow looks to place Russia as a counterweight to Western influence in the region.
- Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said "one of the key subjects" in the talks between Putin and Pezeshkian will be the Middle East crisis, adding "You know how relevant this meeting is in light of the current uneasy atmosphere in the Middle East and the situation surrounding Iran."
- Also on the agenda will be the $25 billion agreement signed by Tehran with Russia's state nuclear company Rosatom to build four nuclear power plants in Iran.
- Putin is scheduled to meet Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, whose country has long been an ally of Russia but which has angered Moscow by seeking to move closer to the West. Ushakov said, "We will insist that Armenia cannot aspire for EU membership while hugely benefiting from cooperation within the European Economic Union (EEU)," referring to the five-member trade bloc that also includes Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
- Moscow and Tehran are both under crippling Western sanctions -- Russia for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Iran for a multitude of issues, including its support for extremist activity in the Middle East and its alleged pursuit of a nuclear weapon.
- UK-based analyst Naser al-Tamimi of MidEast Strategia said the SCO can help largely isolated Iran, "but only to a point," noting it offers broader political cover, reduces international isolation, and expands trade opportunities in yuan, rubles, and other national currencies, but is not an economic shield against US sanctions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to engage in a series of bilateral meetings at the Bishkek summit, aiming to position Russia as a counterweight to Western influence. The summit, part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) celebrating its 25th anniversary, will feature discussions with key leaders including Iran's President Masud Pezeshkian and China's Xi Jinping.123
Kremlin officials confirmed that Putin has at least nine bilateral meetings scheduled, reflecting Moscow's strategy to strengthen ties with nations facing similar Western sanctions. Both Russia and Iran are currently under significant sanctions, with Russia's actions in Ukraine and Iran's controversial nuclear activities contributing to their isolation.
A key topic in the discussions will be the Middle East crisis, as highlighted by Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, who noted the relevance of the meeting given the current tensions in the region. Additionally, the agenda includes a $25 billion agreement for Russia's state nuclear company, Rosatom, to construct four nuclear power plants in Iran.456
Analysts suggest that while the SCO can provide Iran with some political cover and reduce its isolation, it does not serve as a comprehensive economic shield against US sanctions. Naser al-Tamimi, a UK-based analyst, emphasized that the SCO lacks a fully developed financial architecture to protect against secondary sanctions, limiting its effectiveness in supporting Iran's economy.101112
Putin will also meet with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, amid tensions as Armenia seeks closer ties with the West, which has raised concerns in Moscow.78
“Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said the Middle East crisis will be a key subject in Putin-Pezeshkian talks, and the $25 billion Rosatom agreement to build four nuclear power plants in Iran is on the agenda. Analyst Naser al-Tamimi said the SCO can help Iran 'but only to a point,' offering political cover but not an economic shield against US sanctions.”
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
