Russian President Vladimir Putin will on Tuesday visit Tehran for talks with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This will be the Russian leader’s first trip outside the former Soviet Union since Moscow’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.

In Tehran, the Russian President will also hold his first face-to-face meeting since the invasion with a NATO leader, Turkey’s Tayyip Erdogan, to discuss a deal aimed at allowing the resumption of Ukraine’s Black Sea grain exports as well as peace in Syria.

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This trip, which comes just days after US President Joe Biden visited Israel and Saudi Arabia, sends a strong message to the West about Moscow’s plans to forge closer strategic ties with Iran, China and India in the face of the Western sanctions.

Speaking to reporters, Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy adviser said, “The contact with Khamenei is very important.” 

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“A trusting dialogue has developed between them on the most important issues on the bilateral and international agenda,” Yuri added.

Putin will also meet Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi who was elected last year.

For Iran, also chafing under Western economic sanctions and at loggerheads with the United States over Tehran’s nuclear programme and a range of other issues, Putin’s visit is timely.

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The spectre of an emerging US-backed Gulf Arab-Israeli bloc that could tilt the Middle East balance of power further away from Iran has accelerated its clerical rulers’ efforts to strengthen strategic relations with the Kremlin.

Submerged by high oil prices since Russia’s war with Ukraine, Iran is betting that with Moscow’s support it could pressure Washington to offer concessions for the revival of a 2015 nuclear deal.