Russia’s President Vladimir Putin met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on October 8 on the sidelines of the Commonwealth of Independent States summit in Turkmenistan, telling him Russia was ready “to do everything that is in our power to contribute to the settlement” of the war, according to Russian media reports carried by AFP and Vanguard NG. Putin added that Iran had made “real efforts to end the war” since US-Israeli attacks began on February 28, and noted the “positive evolution” of bilateral relations.
Pezeshkian’s side used the meeting to stake out Iran’s negotiating posture. According to Iranian state media, he told Putin that Tehran wanted a “final framework” to end the war but that talks with Washington were “meaningless” while the US kept attacking, accusing the US of “trying to impose its policies and views on all countries.” Iranian outlets separately quoted him saying Iran would not walk away from the negotiating table and that proposals had been exchanged with the Americans, with Tehran revising them before sitting down with intermediaries.
The timing is deliberate. The meeting came on the same day Trump ruled out new strikes before the November 3 midterms, and it follows a Wednesday phone call in which Putin told Pezeshkian he was ready to mediate. The two last met in September at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. Russia and Iran have deepened military and trade ties since 2022 under a 20-year strategic partnership treaty, with Western governments accusing Iran of supplying Shahed drones and missiles for Ukraine.
Analysts read the summit itself with scepticism. Temur Umarov of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center told AFP the CIS proves Moscow retains a sphere of influence, while Central Asia researcher Zhanibek Arynov cautioned that other members are diversifying toward China and the West and will not automatically subscribe to Russian positions. Nothing in the reporting indicates a concrete mediation proposal: what was produced is a photo-op with declared intent. The concrete diplomatic channel remains the Qatar-intermediated talks on Hormuz, now being squeezed from Tehran’s side by the parliament’s hardline moves.