Iran is seeking military and diplomatic assistance from Russia, according to an interview with Tehran University associate professor Foad Izadi published by Al Jazeera. The report states that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Russia for meetings with President Vladimir Putin and other senior leaders.

Izadi told Al Jazeera that Iran’s air defense system is not at the desired level, and the country hopes Russia can help strengthen it. He also emphasized that Russia’s political backing as a permanent member of the UN Security Council is vital for Iran. Izadi noted that Russia recently vetoed a Bahrain–United States proposal, which reinforced Tehran’s interest in maintaining Moscow’s support in international forums.

The report highlights that Iran–Russia military cooperation is longstanding, dating back to the period following Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, when Tehran began viewing Moscow as a key partner in military technology.