Iran, Russia Determined to Deepen Strategic Ties
(FNA)- Iranian Supreme Leader's top aide Ali Akbar Velayati underlined that Tehran and Moscow have serious plans to further consolidate their strategic relations.
"The two countries' high-ranking officials are determined to further expand and deepen strategic relations between Iran and Russia," Velayati said, addressing the Iranian diplomats and managers of the country's institutes in Russia on Thursday.
He made the remarks after holding a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, during which he submitted a letter from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Putin.
"The positive behavior of the Russian president indicates the possibility for seizing this opportunity (to further expand bilateral ties)," Velayati added.
"Important regional and international issues were discussed (during the meeting) and Mr. Putin welcomed developing relations in all fields and a good ground was paved to promote cooperation and interactions at different levels through efforts and precise planning," he underlined.
Velayati arrived in Moscow on Wednesday as the special envoy of President Rouhani to submit his message to the Russian leader.
Over the last several years, Iran and Russia have had vast cooperation in different fields, specially in political and economic spheres.
The two states also enjoy special positions on the international scene and have long had constant and regular consultations on key regional and global issues.
Russian Defense Minister General Sergey Shoigu was in Tehran last week to meet his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan and other Iranian officials and discuss ways to further expand relations with Iran in different military fields.
General Dehqan announced last week that the endorsement of an agreement with Russia to enhance and accelerate defensive cooperation between the two countries.
"We agreed to accelerate our cooperation in defensive and military technologies," Dehqan said in a joint press conference with Shoigu in Tehran.
"The conditions ruling the region and the international issues showed that a powerful Russia in cooperation with an independent and powerful Iran can leave durable impacts on regional peace and security," he added.
Dehqan underlined that the two countries' leaders were firmly determined to widen and enhance mutual cooperation in all fields.
During the press conference, the Russian minister described cooperation between Iran and Russia as a major contributor to the establishment of global and regional security and stability, and said in his meeting with General Dehqan, the two sides decided to strengthen practical dimensions of military cooperation between Tehran and Russia.
"In these negotiations, we discussed security in the region, the Middle-East and Afghanistan and our viewpoints were close or similar to each other," he added.
"We also exchanged views on the importance of coordination in fighting international terrorism and drug trafficking and underscored the importance of mutual cooperation, considering the regional conditions," Shoigu said.