Alexander Venediktov Reaffirms Russia-Iran Cooperation at SCO Security Meeting in Bishkek

Russia’s Deputy Secretary of the Security Council Alexander Venediktov reaffirmed Moscow’s commitment to close cooperation with Tehran to find peaceful solutions to the Middle East crisis within the framework of international law, speaking during a meeting with Ali Bagheri on the sidelines of the 21st Meeting of Security Council Secretaries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Bishkek.

Venediktov said the two countries maintain a high level of foreign policy coordination despite the current challenging conditions, and he strongly condemned what he described as U.S. and Israeli aggression against Iran while expressing condolences over losses suffered during the attacks.

24.KG

Bagheri criticized U.S. policies on the international stage, saying Washington is attempting to impose a lawless global order driven by power politics rather than international norms.

The SCO security meeting in Bishkek focuses on expanding cooperation among member states in combating terrorism, extremism, arms trafficking, drug smuggling, human trafficking, and organized crime, while also addressing broader regional security issues.

Bagheri said the veto of a draft anti-Iranian resolution at the UN Security Council reflected Russia’s position as a guarantor of security, adding that the veto prevented the adoption of a resolution that would have increased regional instability.

He warned that U.S. adventurism within the UN Security Council mechanism would face a Russian response, and he framed the U.S. and Israeli actions as threats not only to Iran’s security and sovereignty but also to international law, stability and security at regional and global levels.

Mehr News Agency

Bagheri told IRNA that “The Americans and Israelis have created threats to our country’s security and national sovereignty,” and he said they “have not only created threats to Iran’s security and national sovereignty, but also threats to international law, stability and security at the regional and global levels.”

In the same meeting, Venediktov said Russia expresses condolences for irreparable losses of Iranian state officials and military commanders during attacks by Washington and Tel Aviv, while Bagheri praised Russia’s firm stance as showing Moscow would not allow the world to become a lawless jungle.

The 21st meeting of the secretaries of security councils of SCO member states opened in Bishkek, with officials from ten countries participating, including Kyrgyzstan as chair and Ali Bagheri Kani as Iran’s deputy secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.

A separate report said the meeting would be held in Bishkek on May 15, 2026 (25 Ordibehesht), and it listed participants including Sergei Shoigu and Ali Bagheri Kani alongside India, Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Shafaqna International News Agency, citing RT, reported that Sergei Shoigu said he was counting on discussing the Ukraine and Iran disputes at the current SCO meeting, and he said: “In today's session I count on exchanging views on the global and regional crises that have a direct impact on the security of the SCO region.”

Mehr News Agency said the session focused on counterterrorism, extremism, illicit arms, and drug trafficking, and it reported that Deputy Secretary Ali Bagheri was in Bishkek to attend the meeting and held talks with his Kyrgyz counterpart on the sidelines.