Iran's president tells Putin: Nato's expansion is 'serious threat' to security and stability

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Thursday that Nato's expansion was a "serious threat" to security and stability around the world, according to the semi-official Nour News.

"Nato's expansion eastward creates tension and is a serious threat to the stability and security of independent states in various areas," Raisi was quoted as saying following Russia's military attack on Ukraine, as reported by Reuters.

"I hope what is happening will benefit peoples and the entire region," he said.

Earlier on Thursday, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that the war in Ukraine was caused by "Nato's provocative actions".