Rouhani, Russian official discuss fighting terror

TEHRAN, Nov. 15 (MNA) – Iranian President Rouhani and Russia’s Federation Council Chairperson Matvienko met in Tehran on Mon. to stress expanding cooperation on combating terrorism and peaceful nuclear activities.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is resolved to expand relations with the Russian Federation in all fields,” Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a meeting with Russia's Federation Council Chairperson Valentina Ivanovna Matvienko in Tehran on Monday.

He went on to add, “Iran-Russia’s relations are at their highest level in recent decades and we need to make use of the post-nuclear deal situation to further bolster cooperation in economic, cultural, scientific and technological fields.”

President Rouhani deemed the two countries’ cooperation on peaceful nuclear energy activities a “clear testament” to Tehran-Moscow deep ties, and welcomed the development of energy and nuclear cooperation with the Eurasian country; “Russia played a constructive role in the nuclear agreement and even today, it can be very effective in helping other parties to the deal to implement their commitments,” he added.

Rouhani further called for facilitation of banking transactions, customs-related issues, visa issuance process, promoting free trade, joint academic activities, as well as cooperation in the fields of aerospace and new technologies.

Rouhani also noted the strategic cooperation between Iran and Russia to fight terrorism, stressing that such cooperation will continue until the eradication of terrorism in the region.

The chairperson of Russia's Federation Council, for her part, highlighted Moscow’s call for an all-out cooperation with Iran in various fields of combating terrorism, trade transactions, energy and peaceful nuclear activities; “the JCPOA has opened new horizons for cooperation between Tehran and Moscow, and Russian companies active in the field of energy are keen on participating in Iranian projects,” she added.

She also expressed hope that the two countries’ joint economic commission will be formed in the near future to further facilitate joint cooperation.