Talks are ongoing between Russia and Iran regarding the possible export of S-400 surface-to-air missile defense systems to the Islamic Republic, as the military conflict continues between the Middle Eastern country and the United States. According to a senior Iranian official who spoke to The Telegraph, the Islamic Republic is “optimistic” that Russian President Vladimir Putin would finally deliver the long-awaited S-400 air defense systems it had sought for years, with Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, dispatched Mohsen Rezaei, his security chief, to the Kremlin on Thursday with a personal letter whose central demand was the supply of S-400s. Following this week’s talks in Moscow, Rezaei stated, “Important regional issues were discussed with Mr. Putin, and significant conversations took place regarding the post-war period and regional security arrangements,” these reportedly include the construction of a new gas pipeline between Russia and Iran. Negotiations over a potential deal contradict a flurry of statements recently made by U.S. President Donald J. Trump, following the lifting of sanctions and a new energy deal with Russia, in which he claimed Moscow is not helping Iran “at all” in their war with the United States.