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Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his best wishes Saturday for the Persian New Year, Nowruz, to Iran’s leaders and its people, assuring them of Moscow’s support as they fight the Middle East war.
“Nowruz greetings were… sent to the Iranian leaders: Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
“Vladimir Putin wished the Iranian people strength on overcoming these severe trials and emphasised that during this difficult time, Moscow remained a loyal friend and reliable partner of Tehran.”
Read Also: Russia Ready To Supply Energy To Europe If It Asks – Putin
Russia, a longtime Iranian ally, has condemned the US-Israeli strikes on the country, which began on February 28, triggering the war.
On Wednesday, Moscow also condemned the killing of Iranian security chief Ali Larijani in an Israeli air strike.
Russia has not officially offered assistance to Iran since the start of the war, besides sending humanitarian aid.
But US media reports have said Russia is sharing military intelligence with Iran to assist its drone and missile strikes in the Middle East.
Iran has attacked US and Israeli bases and other targets around the Gulf in response to the strikes on its territory.
The Kremlin earlier this month declined to comment on reports it is sharing intelligence with Iran.
Russia would supply oil and gas to European buyers, provided such co-operation was “long-term” and did not put political pressure on Moscow, President Vladimir Putin said Monday.
Oil prices have skyrocketed since the United States and Israel began striking Iran on February 28, trading above $100 this week for the first time since Russia launched its Ukraine offensive in 2022.
In a televised meeting, Putin said Moscow would continue to supply oil to “reliable” partners in Asia, as well as EU members Hungary and Slovakia.
Read Also: Iran Fires Kheibar Missiles At Tel Aviv As Beirut Burns
“If European companies and European buyers suddenly decide to reorient themselves and provide us with long-term, sustainable cooperation, devoid of political pressures, free from political pressures, then go ahead. We’ve never refused,” Putin said.
“We’re ready to work with Europeans, but we need some signals from them that they’re ready and willing to work with us and will ensure this sustainability and stability,” he added.
The European Union banned maritime imports of Russian crude in 2022, while Russia’s pipeline exports to Hungary and Slovakia have been effectively halted since January due to damage to the Druzhba oil pipeline via Ukraine.
Putin’s comments came hours after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban urged the European Union to suspend sanctions on Russian oil and gas to counter prices sent soaring by the war in the Middle East.
Bangladesh has closed universities and launched fuel rationing amid a worsening energy crisis linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
Authorities shut all public and private universities across the country from Monday, bringing forward the Eid al-Fitr holidays as part of emergency measures to conserve electricity and fuel.
Officials said the move will not only reduce electricity consumption but also ease traffic congestion, which leads to fuel wastage.
