The 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) opened in the second largest city of Russia on Wednesday, bringing together all parties to explore effective approaches to addressing global challenges.
Themed "Shared Values: The Foundation of Growth in a Multipolar World," this year's forum runs till Saturday.
According to Anton Kobyakov, adviser to the Russian president and executive secretary of the SPIEF Organizing Committee, nearly 20,000 representatives from 140 countries and regions and heads of several international organizations have confirmed their participation in this year's forum.
This forum is held at a time when the global economy is facing severe challenges. It is poised to be a platform for discussing the issues from accelerating digitalization to addressing climate change, and for formulating specific practical solutions that can adapt the global economy to new conditions.
The forum includes more than 150 events, with entrepreneurs from Russia, China, the United States, Türkiye, Brazil, Vietnam, India, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, African and Latin American countries, as well as the European Union and Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states engaged in business talks.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend a plenary session and deliver a speech Friday.
Established in 1997, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is an important platform for discussing global economic governance and fostering international consensus on cooperation. Since 2006, it has been held under the auspices of the Russian president, who has also attended each event.
According to its organizer, the Roscongress Foundation, 1,073 agreements worth more than 6.4 trillion rubles (about 81.5 billion U.S. dollars) were signed at the 27th SPIEF in 2024.
Russia's flagship international economic forum opens in St. Petersburg
Russia's flagship international economic forum opens in St. Petersburg
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
