Russian president holds talks with Saudi, Emirati, Omani, Iranian officials — ‘What is happening in Gaza is of course genocide and a crime against humanity’: Iranian president MOSCOW: Just a few hours after returning to Moscow from a visit to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Omani Crown Prince Theyazin bin Haitham and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. The talks are part of these countries’ efforts to relieve regional tensions in light of the Gaza conflict. Palestine was one of the main topics of discussion between Putin and Raisi. “What is happening in Palestine, in Gaza, is of course genocide and a crime against humanity,” said Raisi. “It is necessary to stop the (Israeli) bombing as soon as possible. This issue today is not only a matter for our region, it is a matter for all mankind, so a very quick solution should be found for this issue.” Putin and Raisi affirmed their commitment to bolstering Russian-Iranian cooperation both bilaterally and within multilateral frameworks. They also discussed the BRICS agenda under Russia’s presidency of the group in 2024. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran will become full members on Jan. 1. “Obviously, the role of BRICS in the world is increasing,” Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s assistant for international affairs, told journalists, adding that there will be discussions with potential members.