Putin Meets Iran Supreme Leader's Aide in Moscow Day After Meeting Netanyahu

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Ali Akbar Velayati, a top adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Thursday in Moscow, RIA news agency reported. His visit comes as Iran braces for renewed U.S. economic sanctions.

Velayati said his meeting with Putin had been "very constructive and friendly" and that Moscow would invest in the Iranian oil sector.

"Our leader (Khamenei) values improving ties with Russia as a strategic partner ... This path will continue ... Russia is prepared to invest in Iran's oil sector," the adviser, Ali Akbar Velayati, told Iranian state television from Moscow.

"Iran and Russia will continue to cooperate in Syria," he added. The two countries support President Bashar Assad's forces in the Syrian civil war.

The meeting took place just one day after president Putin met with PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. One of the main focus points of the meeting was Israel's concern over the Iranian military presence in Syria.

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"Our opinion is that Iran should leave Syria, this is not something new for you," the prime minister told the Russian President. "A few hours ago a Syrian aircraft breached Israeli airspace. We intercepted it and we will continue to act firmly against any infiltration, on land or in the air, and we expect everyone to respect [Israel's] sovereignty and that Syria will observe the separation agreements."