Russian Security High Official Shoigu Arrives In Tehran, Will Meet Iranian President

Secretary of the Russian security council, Sergei Shoigu//DOKmen Vadim Savitsky/Russian Defense Ministry Press Office/TASS

JAKARTA - Secretary of the Russian security council, Sergei Shoigu, arrived in Tehran for talks with Iranian leaders including President Masoud Pezeshkian,

Russian news agency Interfax reported the visit comes amid tensions in the Middle East amid fears of a wider regional war after Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, was killed in Tehran.

Shoigu, a former Russian defense minister, will also meet with Iran's head of national security and chief of general staff, Interfax said.

Russia has fostered closer ties with Iran since the start of its war with Ukraine and said it was preparing to sign a broad cooperation agreement.

Reuters reported in February that Iran had given Russia a large number of strong surface-to-surface ballistic missiles.

The United States said in June Russia appeared to be deepening its defense cooperation with Iran and had received hundreds of one-way attack drones used to attack Ukraine, but this was denied by Moscow.

Russia said last Friday it joined Iran in condemning the killing of Hamas leaders and showed the "very dangerous consequences of the act".