Russia’s Putin begins a visit to Turkmenistan for forum with regional leaders, including Iran

ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has met Iran’s president at a time when Tehran is supplying weapons for Moscow’s war in Ukraine and concerns are growing over escalating attacks between Israel and Iran and its militant allies. Russian state media say Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian discussed the situation in the Middle East on the sidelines of an international forum in the Turkmen capital, Ashgabat. Moscow and Tehran signed a $1.7 billion deal for Iran to export drones to Russia after Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022, and the U.S. also believes it has transferred short-range ballistic missiles. Putin is also expected to hold talks with the Turkmen president, Serdar Berdymukhamedov.