Russia03 October, 20262 min read
Vladimir Putin Calls Killing Ali Larijani A Major Mistake At Valdai Meeting
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Putin called the assassination of Ali Larijani a major mistake. He praised Iran's courage and resilience facing international pressure.
6 outlets told this the same way.
Putin calls it a mistake
Vladimir Putin, speaking at the 23rd annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow, said the international community was “amazed” by the Iranian nation’s ability to withstand pressure. Putin called the killing of Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, “a tremendous mistake,” and he said he had known Larijani personally and regarded him as someone ready to seek mutually acceptable compromises “above all in the interests of the Iranian people.”
“Putin called the killing of Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, a tremendous mistake.”
Putin said Larijani had visited Russia for talks on Iran’s enriched uranium, and Putin said Moscow had already carried out such a transfer in 2015 and remained ready to repeat it. Putin expressed hope that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen and that illegal sanctions against Iran would be lifted, adding that “We support that.”
Dialogue club remarks and uranium
Putin told the Valdai Discussion Club that “Mr. Larijani — I knew him personally well — was a very positively minded person, ready to seek mutually acceptable compromises,” and he said the killing was “of course a mistake” because such a person would be needed to find compromises and solutions that could bring peace to the Persian Gulf.
Putin said Tehran had at one stage agreed to a Russian proposal to relocate Iran’s enriched uranium, and Putin said Washington and the “Israeli” regime initially accepted the arrangement.
Putin said the Americans later hardened their position and demanded that the uranium go only to the United States, after which Iran toughened its own stance.
Putin said Larijani then proposed a joint Russian-Iranian enterprise on Iranian territory to dilute the material, and Putin added that Moscow’s offer remains on the table.
Russia-Iran ties and consequences
Putin linked his remarks to Russia and Iran’s strategic relationship, saying the two countries have deepened strategic ties in recent years amid sweeping US sanctions and Western isolation. Putin said a 20-year comprehensive strategic partnership agreement was signed last year, and Putin said Moscow continues work on new units at the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
Putin said Russia remains prepared to facilitate a similar arrangement for enriched uranium, and Putin expressed hope that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen and that illegal sanctions would be lifted. Putin also said he hoped that restoring normal conditions would remove the basis for restrictions on maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab Al-Mandeb, and he said Russia supports such a development.