Iran’s Ambassador to Patriarch of Moscow: Our leaders understand each other very well

On 30 July 2026, at the Patriarchal Residence of the Monastery of St Daniel in Moscow, a meeting took place between Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and Kazem Jalali, Ambassador of Iran to the Russian Federation.

Representing the Russian Church at the meeting were Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, and Archpriest Sergey Zvonarev, Secretary of the Department responsible for relations with countries abroad.

Representing the Embassy of Iran in Russia were Abdulreza Rashid, Head of the Embassy’s Cultural Centre, Hojjat al-Islam wal-Muslimin Mahdi Bakhtavar, Embassy Counsellor, and Cultural Attaché Zahra Rashidbeigi.

Welcoming his guest, Patriarch Kirill spoke warmly of their previous meeting: “We discussed our bilateral relations and the importance of dialogue between our religions. I am especially pleased that we have the opportunity to renew this fraternal dialogue and our communication.”

The Ambassador presented Patriarch Kirill with a letter from the current Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, expressing gratitude to the Patriarch for his condolences following the assassination, in…