The story: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has embarked on his second trip to Russia since taking office. Raisi is said to have pitched “ideas” during extensive talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Having boosted ties after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the conflict in Gaza appears to be moving Moscow and Tehran even closer. In this vein, Iran says it is in the process of acquiring advanced fighter jets and attack helicopters from Russia.

The coverage: Raisi traveled to Russia on Dec. 7 for a one-day visit that he said would include discussions on developments in Gaza, among other topics. The trip notably followed a tour of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by...