Iran’s top advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said that ties between Russia and Iran are expanding. Advisor Ali Akbar Velayati’s comments come in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Iran.

“Velayati made the remarks while meeting in Tehran with Alexander Lavrentiev, Putin’s special envoy for Syria on Wednesday,” a report from Iran’s state media IRNA said.

The report noted that the two men discussed issues such as regional development, the war in Gaza, the conflict in Lebanon, and issues in Syria. This illustrates how Iran is trying to leverage ties with Moscow to encourage Russia to be more hostile to Israel and take a more pro-Iranian stance in the region.

Tehran and Moscow have long had amicable ties. They have increased as both countries believe closer relations can upset the US-led world order that emerged in the 1990s.

Iranian state media highlighted aspects of the recent talks: “While referring to the Zionist regime’s crimes and the ongoing genocide of Palestinians as well as the recent aggression against Lebanon and Syria with the backing of the US and some other Western countries, Velayati stressed the need to stop the killing machine of this usurping regime,” the report said.

“Putin’s aide Lavrentiev, while expressing his satisfaction with the meeting with Velayati, emphasized the strengthening of relations between Tehran and Moscow,” the report added. Russia and Iran discussed “peace and stability,” which is ironic, as both countries are involved in destabilizing actions.