Envoy: Iran, Russia Mulling Visa Lifting

(FNA)- Iran and Russia are discussing plans to lift visa requirements in a reciprocal move, Tehran's Ambassador to Moscow Mehdi Sanayee said.

“It’s difficult for our businessmen to get a visa to Russia, specially a long-term visa, but we are happy that in 2014 our (Foreign) Ministers (Mohammad Javad) Zarif and (Sergey) Lavrov agreed on the easing of the visa regime, specially for businessmen and tourists,” Sanayee underlined.

The Iranian envoy added that Moscow and Tehran seek to sign a memorandum of understanding this year to that end.

Also, regarding the high tariffs on the exports of Iranian goods to Russia, he said Tehran expected to sign an initial agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union in 2015.

“I think that in 2015 we need to work on this so that Iran will have concrete economic contracts with the EEU (Eurasian Economic Union)…Iran plans to use this opportunity for its exports to Russia and other (countries),” Sanayee went on to say.

He further noted that Iranian producers hope to gain approval to export dairy and meat products within the next two months.

“I hope this happens because it is very important. We were promised that this would be resolved in the first quarter, by the end of March,” the diplomat said.

Over the last several years, Iran and Russia have had vast cooperation in different fields, specially in political and economic spheres.

Russian President Veladimir Putin in a meeting with Iranian Supreme Leader's top aide Ali Akbar Velayati emphasized the need for strengthening relations between Tehran and Moscow in different fields.

During the meeting in Moscow on Wednesday, Putin welcomed promotion of mutual cooperation between Iran and Russia.

Velayati, for his part, submitted a message from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to his Russian counterpart.

Velayati and Putin also discussed major bilateral, regional and international issues in an hour-long meeting.