Iran Press/Europe: This statement was made during a cordial meeting with Ali-Akbar Ahmadian, the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and representative of the Leader of Iran's Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who was attending the BRICS high-level security officials' summit in St. Petersburg.
The meeting, which took place at Putin's summer residence on Thursday, focused on strengthening bilateral ties, with both sides discussing a wide range of issues related to their cooperation.
Strategic Partnership
In the presence of Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, Ahmadian conveyed the greetings of Iran's Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, to President Putin. Ahmadian emphasized that the newly formed Iranian government under President Masoud Pezeshkian remains committed to expanding relations with Russia.
The Iranian official also provided an update on the ongoing development of Iran-Russia bilateral cooperation, both in direct relations and in multilateral settings like international organizations.
Putin's Optimism
Putin described the relationship between Russia and Iran as "strategic" and praised the progress made in recent years. "We must recognize that our relations have gained significant momentum, thanks largely to the support of Ayatollah Khamenei," Putin remarked, before asking Ahmadian to pass along his "warmest regards" to Iran's leader.
Putin also highlighted the upcoming BRICS summit, scheduled for late October in Kazan, Russia, where he anticipates meeting Iran's new president. He expressed his intention to hold separate discussions with President Pezeshkian to further solidify their cooperation.
Comprehensive Agreement on the Horizon
The Russian president referred to the ongoing negotiations for a long-term strategic cooperation agreement between the two countries, noting that Russia is eager to finalize the deal. He also stressed that economic cooperation is a priority, mentioning that trade between the two nations has increased by 10% in the first half of this year.
Putin expressed satisfaction with Iran's prioritization of its relations with Russia under the new leadership and singled out the North-South Transport Corridor as a key project for both nations. "We fully support Iran’s transit route," he said.
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