**Putin and Pezeshkian Meet in Turkmenistan Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions**

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iran's newly inaugurated President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of a regional conference in Turkmenistan, as concerns rise over increasing hostilities between Israel and Iran and their respective allies. The meeting, reported by Russian state media, focused on the ongoing situation in the Middle East.

The discussion comes ahead of a significant strategic partnership agreement expected to be signed between their nations. Pezeshkian expressed his hopes that this agreement would be finalized during the BRICS summit scheduled to be held in Russia from October 22-24. Putin extended an invitation to Pezeshkian for the summit during their meeting.

According to the Russian state news agency TASS, Putin emphasized the alignment between Moscow's and Tehran's stances on many international matters, highlighting the priority of their relationship. "Relations with Iran are a priority for us. They are developing very successfully," Putin stated. Pezeshkian echoed similar sentiments, noting that economic and cultural ties between Iran and Russia are strengthening daily.

Addressing the escalating violence in the Middle East, Pezeshkian condemned Israel's actions in Lebanon, describing them as "savage attacks" and urging Israel to cease its assaults on civilians. He criticized the United States and European countries for supporting Israel's actions. The Israeli military has deployed ground troops into southern Lebanon and continues its bombardment in response to the militant group Hezbollah, which is backed by Tehran.

Russia has a history of condemning Israel for its military actions in Lebanon and Gaza, and relations between Russia and Iran have strengthened notably since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The United States has accused Iran of supplying Russia with weapons for use in Ukraine, a claim that Tehran has consistently denied.

During the conference, Putin called for the establishment of a "new world order" to counter Western influence, advocating for extensive international discussions on an emerging multipolar world. He indicated Moscow's willingness to engage in dialogue through various platforms, including the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and BRICS.

The conference also saw the attendance of other regional leaders, such as Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and the leaders of Central Asian countries including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.