Russia and Iran are obliged to develop bilateral cooperation in the current geopolitical situation to withstand pressure from the West and other challenges. It will be encouraged by the lifting of sanctions against Iran, which will significantly expand the bilateral interaction, the participants of the round table titled 'Russian-Iranian cooperation in the current geopolitical conditions', which was held today at the Russian Institute of Strategic Studies under the Russian Presidential Administration, said.
The event was organized with the assistance of the Iranian Center for Strategic Studies (CSS). It was attended by representatives of the Russian state structures, experts from leading institutes and research centers, the CSS delegation headed by its President, assistant of spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on international affairs, Ali Akbar Velayati, Iranian Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanaei, Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council, Yevgeny Lukyanov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Alexander Romanovich, as well as representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Yevgeny Lukyanov said that Iran is a close and natural partner of Russia and their relations are at a high level of mutual dialogue. "The past year was one of the most rewarding and effective in terms of bilateral relations. We are satisfied with the level of our cooperation with Iran on Syria and other regional issues. We share Tehran's concern regarding the situation in Afghanistan. We would like Iran to be actively involved in SCO activities to address the challenges and threats to regional security," a correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza cited him as saying.
"The Russian Security Council Secretary, Nikolai Patrushev, emphasized yesterday that the settlement of the situation around the Iranian nuclear program opens up new prospects for Russian-Iranian interaction in ensuring regional and international security," the Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council said.
Mehdi Sanaei expressed satisfaction over the fact that the sides are holding such an event today. "Our relations are developing in all areas now, and the current period can be characterized as one of the most important and effective. And the result will be seen for many years," he said.
The diplomat said that the lifting of sanctions against Iran will give a new impetus to Iranian-Russian relations and will become a new basis for their development. "As the Iranian president said last night in an interview, Russia retains and will retain its priority in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This is also included in the program of the current government," Sanai explained.
According to him, many of the problems in the banking sector were solved in the past year. "The current situation is very suitable for the development of our relations, especially in the economy and trade," he said.
"Such events can assist in our interaction. It brought together analysts and scientists who can show us where to go next," Mehdi Sanaei concluded.
Ali Akbar Velayati said that there is a transition period in world politics now, which obliges Moscow and Tehran to exchange views. "Iran and Russia can contribute to the creation of a more equitable world system. Iran and Russia have a long history and our relationships are crucial to stability at the regional and global levels," the Iranian politician said.
The assistant to spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on international affairs also expressed gratitude for Russia's assistance during the negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program. "Iran suffered serious damage during the sanctions. The lifting of sanctions creates excellent opportunities for the economy. But we cannot trust the West and the United States anymore," he noted.
Velayati said that the West can hardly stop the pressure on Iran, as the differences in the political sphere are basic, so Tehran will develop strategic relations with the countries of West Asia, as well as with the Russian Federation. "We need to get away from the development of only trade and economic relations and go to investments," he stressed.
"Our position is that such countries as Iran, Russia, Venezuela and Iraq should conduct more contacts and consultations on production in the energy market," he added.
"We must make an effort to expand our bilateral cooperation and strengthen the BRICS and the SCO," the CSS president said.
"We are under pressure from the West, so there should be new aspects in our cooperation. The continuation of this cooperation will create difficulties for the United States," the assistant to the spiritual leader warned.
The vice-president of the Center for Strategic Studies, Gholam Reza Foruzesh, stressed that the current situation obliges Russia and Iran to intensify bilateral contacts. "We should pay more attention to cooperation in the industrial and agricultural spheres," he said.
"We need Russian technologies in the aerospace industry. We could help each other in the production of petrochemical products," the CSS vice-president noted.
Gholam Reza Foruzesh also welcomed the simplification of the visa regime between Russia and Iran.
