Relations between Russia and Iran are developing along all vectors, and work on a major new cooperation agreement which will take relations to the new level is close to completion, President Vladimir Putin has announced.
“Work on a new, major agreement between Russia and Iran is in its final stage. [This treaty] will mark the transition of relations between our countries to a strategic level,” Putin said, speaking alongside his Iranian counterpart President Ebrahim Raisi on the sidelines of the SCO Summit.
Putin indicated that a large delegation of Russian officials will make their way to Iran next week, including representatives from some 80 large Russian companies. He recalled that the last time a large delegation of Russian officials traveled to Iran in May, they expressed surprise at and were impressed with the level of development of Iran’s high-tech sector.
“To be honest, they did not expect this. We and I personally congratulate you on this,” the Russian president told his Iranian counterpart.
“Interregional ties are developing. We are actively cooperating in the international arena, and on many [points] our positions are close, or as diplomats would put it, they coincide,” Putin said.
Putin also offered praise for Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei, saying that the Iranian Supreme Leader’s personal commitment was responsible for many joint Russian-Iranian projects moving forward. “We are interested in his support in the future. Please convey my best wishes to him,” Putin said.
The Russian president promised that he would do everything in his power to ensure that Iran becomes a full member of the SCO, and that Russia’s partners in the organization have also supported this initiative. “The last formality remains…and Iran will join this serious, large and authoritative international organization,” he said. “And we are very happy about this,” Putin added.
For his part, President Raisi emphasized that relations between Tehran and Moscow carry “strategic importance,” and added that the two countries have managed to neutralize the effect of Western sanctions.
“We are serious about the development of bilateral relations. Our relations are not ordinary, they are of a strategic nature. Cooperation can continue to develop in the political, trade and economic, as well as the space and aerospace sectors,” Raisi said.
“As for the sanctions against Russia, we do not recognize and will never recognize these sanctions, and will strengthen and develop our relations with the Russian Federation in the trade and economic sphere,” he said.
Source: Agencies
