"Thanks to his support, we have gained good momentum over the past year," Putin said. Western countries have accused Tehran of supporting Russia's offensive in Ukraine by providing it with large quantities of drones and other weaponry. The two also discussed the two-month-long Israel-Hamas war, which has drastically ratcheted up tensions between Israel and Arab states in the Middle East. "It is very important for us to exchange views on the situation in the region, especially with regard to the situation in Palestine," Putin said. Putin spoke with Israeli and Arab leaders shortly after the war began and has sought to position himself as a potential peace mediator between the warring sides.
