Putin, Rohani To Meet In Kyrgyz Capital Next Month

Iranian President Hasan Rohani gestures as he addresses his first news conference as president, on August 6 in Tehran.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet for the first time with newly inaugurated Iranian President Hassan Rohani in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, next month.

Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said during a Moscow press conference on August 9 that the two presidents will meet on September 13 on the sidelines of a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Iran has observer status in the SCO, which comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Ushakov said the meeting was arranged at Rohani's request.

Putin met in Moscow with Rohani's predecessor, Mahmud Ahmadinejad, in July.

The Kremlin recently denied media reports that Putin would visit Tehran in August.

Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS and RIA-Novosti