Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged continued support to Iran during talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Putin stated that Russia is providing Tehran with necessary assistance and essential goods amid its conflict with the United States. "During this difficult period, we are striving to provide you with the necessary assistance, as we have discussed, and are supplying you with essential goods," he said, according to the Kremlin.

He also praised Iran's "courage and resilience" in its struggle for national interests and asked Pezeshkian to convey greetings to Iran's supreme leader.

Pezeshkian thanked Putin for Moscow's backing during the war with the United States and years of Western sanctions. The Iranian leader described the bilateral relationship as strategic and noted that it has helped confront U.S. pressure.

The meeting underscored the deepening military and political ties between Moscow and Tehran. Iran has supplied drone technology to Russia, enabling domestic production lines for weapons used on the battlefield in Ukraine. In return, Russia has offered targeting assistance for Iranian strikes in the Middle East.

Putin's comments came shortly after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a new sanctions campaign against Iran called Operation Economic Outcast, aimed at achieving unprecedented economic isolation.

Russia and Iran have expanded cooperation in trade and economics despite tensions, maintaining the pace of their partnership under a comprehensive strategic agreement. The leaders also discussed the fragile nature of a June ceasefire memorandum between Iran and the United States, which has since broken down amid renewed exchanges.

The alliance between the two nations has strengthened since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with mutual support extending to diplomatic positions at the United Nations and other forums.