Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in Tehran on Sunday for a surprise visit during which he will meet President Hassan Rouhani and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Dehghan, said Iranian state television.
The visit of Mr. Shoigu comes just five days after Mr. Dehghan in Moscow. According to state television, he must discuss with Iranian officials the “regional situation”.
Nothing has filtered yet on these talks, but Iran and Russia want to “strengthen” their military cooperation, as Mr Shoigu had said Tuesday after meeting his Iranian counterpart in Moscow. Mr. Dehghan also met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.
Russia has delivered to Iran of S-300 missile systems, according to Iranian and Russian media, Tehran also wants to buy 30 Sukhoi fighter jets from Russia. Iran and Russia support financially and militarily the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, to the chagrin of Western countries, Turkey and some Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia, regional rival Iran.