Pezeshkian delivered a speech at the International Forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust (2025), the International Day of Neutrality, and the 30th Anniversary of the Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan, which took place in Ashgabat on Friday.

In his speech, Pezeshkian said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a responsible member of the international community, firmly believes that peace and development can only be achieved through equal dialogue, collective cooperation, adherence to international law and the United Nations Charter, and the avoidance of unilateralism.”

He added, “Today, peace, rather than being a universal right, has become a privilege that exists only in specific geographies.”

Emphasizing the need to rethink the concept of peace in today’s world, the president asserted that real peace cannot be achieved through military build-ups, hard alliances, or symbolic diplomacy, but requires confronting the underlying causes of instability, such as inequality, monopolization, and discrimination.

Pezeshkian criticized the policies of major powers in West Asia for effectively creating a “special status” for the Israeli regime, which he said is the source of many regional wars and injustices.

He highlighted the aggressive actions of the Zionist regime, including repeated crimes in Gaza, illegal settlements in the West Bank, and attacks on Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and Qatar.

He argued that these actions are a direct consequence of global power monopolies and double standards that grant the Israeli regime security exceptionalism.

Referring to the June attack on Iran by the Israeli regime, which resulted in the loss of hundreds of innocent lives, Pezeshkian criticized the lack of international punishment and the political and military support Israel received from powers claiming to uphold human rights and global peace.

As long as the Zionist regime enjoys such privileges, he said, it is impossible to speak of true peace and fair international order.

Pezeshkian then called on all countries to take responsibility by promoting regional initiatives, actively participating in international organizations, and practicing principled, multilateral, and ethical diplomacy to ensure that the world is not dictated solely by the interests of major powers.

The president concluded by appreciating Turkmenistan for its hospitality and leadership in advancing the discourse on peace and security.

Putin: Russia supports Iran on nuclear issue

Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Tehran and Moscow maintain close and continuous contact on sensitive international matters, including Iran’s nuclear issue, and emphasized that Russia supports Iran.

Putin made the remarks during a meeting with President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday, held on the sidelines of the International Peace and Trust Summit in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

He noted that Tehran is well aware of Moscow’s position, adding that Russia backs Iran at the United Nations. Putin also highlighted that the foreign ministers of both countries remain in regular contact on various issues.

The Russian president extended his greetings to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and praised the growth in bilateral trade – 13% in 2024 and 8% during the first nine months of 2025.

The international gathering in Ashgabat was convened on Friday to commemorate the International Year of Peace and Trust, the International Day of Neutrality, and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality, with the participation of leaders from several countries.

Turkmenistan’s neutral status was first recognized internationally in 1995. In 2017, at Ashgabat’s initiative, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution designating December 12 as the International Day of Neutrality.

Pezeshkian says determined to implement comprehensive Iran-Russia agreement

 President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized Tehran’s determination to implement the comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement between Iran and Russia.

“We are determined to operationalize the agreement we have signed, and we expect the Russian side to accelerate and finalize the implementation process,” Pezeshkian said in a meeting with his Russian counterpart on the sidelines of the International Conference on Peace and Trust in Turkmenistan on Friday.

Pezeshkian expressed satisfaction with the expanding relations between Tehran and Moscow and thanked Russia for its support of the Islamic Republic of Iran in international forums, highlighting the joint cooperation in power plants, transportation, and transit corridors.

He also added that Iran will provide full grounds for implementing corridor projects by the end of the year, stressing the importance of developing North-South and East-West corridors.

Pezeshkian also described agricultural cooperation as highly beneficial and suggested expanding this model to other sectors, underlining the necessity of joint collaboration through international and regional organizations such as Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS to counter unilateralism.