Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed Iran as the country’s most reliable and stable partner when he met with his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, in Moscow on Tuesday, according to Russia's TASS news agency.
Heading a high-ranking political and economic delegation, Iranian President Rouhani’s two-day official visit began on Monday, after receiving an official invitation from Putin.
The two leaders discussed during the meeting prospects for expanding bilateral trade, economic and investment ties and agreed to deepen Russian-Iranian cooperation in various areas, primarily the economy.
"We noted with satisfaction that trade between Russia and Iran grew by more than 70 percent in 2016. This is a truly good result, since we managed to achieve it amid an unstable global economy and persisting volatility on the commodity and currency markets," Putin said.
The two countries signed a string of cooperation agreements in various fields, including the energy sector.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani during a joint press conference following their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 28, 2017./CFP Photo
A joint statement published by the Kremlin has shown that both sides’ consensus of accelerating the implementation of the Roadmap for Cooperation in Trade and Industry. With “particular attention” being paid to bilateral projects in the nuclear power industry, a memorandum of understanding on transport of nuclear materials signed between Russia's Rosatom state nuclear corporation and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) following the meeting between the two leaders.
"We are at a new stage in our economic relations, and our overall links have graduated from ordinary to major long-term projects," said Rouhani, "We are making the right decisions serving the long-term strategy of our relations."
Two parties also signed agreements on cooperation in various fields including oil and gas, information technologies and communications, railway transport, sport, tourism and the legal sphere.
Closer partner: a strategic move
During the meeting Putin and Rouhani also discussed on the global and regional agenda, emphasizing the importance of fighting international terrorism. The two leaders pledged to further strengthen cooperation in pushing forward a peaceful political settlement in Syria and the national reconciliation in Afghanistan.
Conflict in the Middle East, particularly in Syria, has recently brought the two parties together for further cooperation.
Russia in last August was allowed to use the Iranian air base for Syria operation, the first time since 1940s that Iran has allowed a foreign power to use its military base within its territory.
At the same day that Rouhani meeting with Putin, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Russia can use its military bases to launch airstrikes against militants in Syria on a "case by case basis", after Russia and Iran have kept as key allies in the past 18 months in Syria conflict.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif exchange documents during a signing ceremony in Moscow, Russia on March 28, 2017./CFP Photo
Since US president Donald Trump came into power, US-Iranian relations have entered a new round of tension.
Trump has been tough on Iran after him assuming the office, by accusing Iran’s test-firing of a ballistic missile at the end of January. Some have called the test a violation of the United Nations Security Council resolution 2231, and the Trump administration was irate and saying it would put Iran “on notice”.
However, Iran insists its missile test was not a violation of the US-Iran nuclear deal, and has always insisted its nuclear program is peaceful.
A day before Rouhani left for Moscow, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported Iran imposed sanctions on 15 US companies for alleged human rights violations and cooperating with Israel.
While relations between Russia and Iran has continued to warm up in the past two months. The two countries in February agreed to hold talks on free trade agreement, to strengthen trade relations between Tehran and Moscow.
The contrast between "Cold" and "Warm" in relations, reflects that under the Trump era, the subtle changes in this trilateral relationship of US, Iran and Russia.
Tensions between the US and Iran, and Russia and western countries have made the Middle East the key region for all sides.
Rouhani is the third Middle East leader who visited Russia in this month following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish President Erdogan.
