host russian security chief
Iran Calls For Ukraine Talks As It Hosts Russian Security Chief
Iran's top security official Ali Shamkhani called for dialogue to end the war in Ukraine during a meeting Wednesday in Tehran with his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev. Patrushev later met with President Ebrahim Raisi, who said that "broadening the scope of the war and its escalation are a source of concern for all countries," according to official news agency IRNA. The meetings come after Kiev and its Western allies accused Russia in recent weeks of using Iranian-made drones to carry out attacks in Ukraine. "Iran supports any initiative leading to a ceasefire and peace between Russia and Ukraine based on dialogue," Shamkhani said, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. The Islamic republic was "ready to play a role in ending the war", he added, IRNA reported.