Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the Islamic Republic and Russia have been working closely together to fight terrorism and promote stability in the region.
“Relations between Iran and Russia are aimed at promoting regional stability and the two countries’ main objective is to promote regional peace and tranquility,” Rouhani said in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, Moscow, on Tuesday.
He added that Tehran-Moscow ties would never be against the interests of any third country.
Rouhani said Iran attached importance to strengthening relations with Russia, adding that the two countries had taken steps to bring about positive developments in mutual ties over the past three and a half years.
The Iranian chief executive emphasized that mutual relations had entered “a new phase,” saying, “In this new phase, we can speak about sustainable and long-term ties.”
Rouhani expressed hope that the two sides would manage to take more steps to further deepen ties.
The Russian president, for his part, said Iran was a good neighbor and a stable and reliable partner for his country.
Putin added that Moscow and Tehran worked very effectively together in all areas, including on global issues and the resolution of major and very grave international problems.
He also commended major achievements made by the two countries in recent years, particularly in the economic sector, saying that trade volume between Iran and Russia increased 70 percent in 2016 in comparison with the year before.
Iran, Russia sign 14 documents for cooperation
Meanwhile, Iran and Russia signed 14 documents for the expansion of cooperation in various political, economic, judicial, legal, scientific and cultural fields.
The documents were signed by senior Iranian and Russian officials in the presence of Rouhani and Putin following their talks.
Meanwhile, Iranian and Russian economic entrepreneurs and businesspeople held several rounds of talks and signed agreements to boost cooperation between the two countries’ private sectors.
Heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, the Iranian president arrived in Moscow Monday evening for a two-day official visit at the invitation of his Russian counterpart.
In a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Monday, Rouhani said mutual relations were “growing” and stressed that relations would play an effective role in promoting regional and international stability and security.
Before the current meeting, Rouhani and Putin had held eight meetings over the past four years. Tehran and Moscow enjoy strategic relations with senior delegations from the two countries regularly exchanging visits.
The two presidents have also held several phone conversations and discussed the available avenues for the continuation of bilateral cooperation on the crisis in Syria and the fight against international terrorism.
Source: Press TV
