Sun Sep 15 13:36:19 UTC 2024: ## Iran’s President to Attend BRICS Summit Amid Growing Military Ties with Russia
**Moscow, Russia** – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will attend the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, from October 22-24, according to the Iranian ambassador in Moscow. The visit comes amidst heightened tensions with the West over escalating military cooperation between Iran and Russia.
President Pezeshkian is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the two leaders may sign a bilateral cooperation agreement. This follows recent reports of Russia procuring ballistic missiles from Iran, which the U.S. alleges could be deployed in Ukraine within weeks.
The deepening military ties between Moscow and Tehran have raised concerns in the West, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling it a threat to European security. In response, the U.S., Germany, Britain, and France imposed new sanctions on Iran last week, targeting the country’s national airline.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has denied the transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia and dismissed the new sanctions as ineffective.
The BRICS summit, which will bring together leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is expected to focus on economic and political cooperation among the emerging economies. However, the presence of Iranian President Pezeshkian amidst the growing military alliance with Russia is likely to overshadow the event’s economic agenda.
First Piper 