Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian pledged to strengthen cooperation in defying US sanctions during their meeting on Wednesday at the BRICS summit in Kazan.

Pezeshkian expressed confidence that joint efforts between their countries could "neutralize" the economic pressure from the US while at the same time expressing that a formal agreement outlining further steps in their partnership would be signed soon.

Iran, along with Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates, officially joined the bloc on January 1, 2024.