Pezeshkian made the remarks during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) leaders’ summit and a Caspian Sea environmental summit in Turkmenistan.
The Iranian president expressed satisfaction with the growing engagement between Tehran and Moscow, emphasizing the need to expand bilateral trade, economic and humanitarian ties, uphold their joint strategic program, oppose unilateralism, and promote multilateralism at the regional and international levels.
“I am truly pleased with the interactions that are taking shape,” Pezeshkian said, adding that relations between the two countries are expanding in most areas, with progress in trade, economic cooperation and people-to-people ties.
He reaffirmed Iran’s determination to broaden bilateral relations within the framework of the agreed joint strategic program, saying that these relations and plans could help the two countries achieve success in more areas.
Pezeshkian expressed hope that the engagement between Tehran and Moscow would advance with greater speed and strength, describing the coordination achieved so far as positive and the current period as the best opportunity to deepen and expand cooperation.
Addressing US unilateralism, the Iranian president said the world and the region must move toward multilateralism and should not allow unilateral policies to spread.
“The US is trying to impose its policies and views on all countries and establish its dominance. It is now dictating to other countries the policies it formulates domestically,” he said.
Pezeshkian praised Moscow’s opposition to unilateralism, noting that Putin has consistently spoken out against such policies in his speeches and positions. Iran, he added, is also working to advance that approach.
Turning to diplomatic efforts, the Iranian president said Tehran remains engaged in negotiations despite repeated US attacks.
“We are in talks, but every time we negotiate with the US, they attack again. However, we will not withdraw from the negotiating table or abandon dialogue,” he said.
Pezeshkian explained that Iran has submitted proposals and the US had put forward new ones. Tehran has made revisions to the proposals, he said, adding that once the revisions are finalized, the sides would meet through existing intermediaries to review and consolidate them.
He also expressed appreciation for Russia’s positions on regional affairs and at the United Nations, as well as its assistance in preventing unilateralism from prevailing.
“Our efforts are aimed at ending the war and ensuring that the rights of the Iranian nation are respected within the framework of international law,” Pezeshkian said. “But if the US seeks to proceed through unilateralism, that will not be possible.”
Putin, for his part, welcomed the deepening humanitarian ties and expanding multilateral engagement with Iran, saying he was pleased to meet Pezeshkian.
Russia and Iran have numerous strategic and key programs and policies in common, the Russian president said, adding that their cooperation is growing day by day.
Putin also conveyed his greetings and wishes for health and success to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei.
He stressed the importance of resolving outstanding issues and ending the war in the region, describing the resolution of the ongoing crisis as the key regional priority. He said Iran has played no role in creating the crisis, while several countries are now seeking to end the war through diplomacy.
Putin noted that Iran has also presented new proposals aimed at ending the war.
Reaffirming that Moscow’s position on the situation is clear, he said Russia would make every effort to resolve the crisis through diplomatic means.