Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi showed support for Russia in attacking Ukraine, saying that NATO expansion is a serious threat to the stability and security of independent countries in different areas.
In a telephone conversation, Raisi told Russian president Vladimir Putin that he hopes the Russian move “would benefit the region.”
Referring to the Vienna talks, he said that Iran is seeking a lasting agreement.
"Providing a credible guarantee, ending political issues, and the actual lifting of sanctions are prerequisites for reaching a lasting agreement," Raisi said.
The Vienna talks, which involved Iran as well as Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia directly, and the United States indirectly, resumed in late November with the aim of restoring 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Russian shelling began early Thursday morning in Ukraine, just moments after Putin said he had "decided to conduct a special military operation" aimed at the "demilitarization and denazification" of the neighboring country.
He called on Ukraine's forces to lay down their arms and surrender their country to Russian control, and warned the U.S. and NATO not to interfere or they would face "consequences you have never seen."
