“Considering the developments that have taken place on the international scene, we [Iran] are cooperating with Russia in the region,” Larijani said in a joint press conference with Russia’s Federation Council Chairperson Valentina Ivanovna Matvienko in Tehran on Sunday following an earlier meeting.
He added that Iran and Russia have taken steps over recent years to broaden relations and said Matvienko’s current visit to Tehran would play a key role in developing trade, political, parliamentary and security cooperation between the two sides.
He noted that he had held “very useful and constructive” talks with the top Russian parliamentarian, adding that the two sides offered good proposals on regional and international issues.
The Iranian parliament speaker said the two sides also discussed ways to increase cooperation in railway transportation and energy.
‘Good Tehran-Moscow Cooperation in Terror Fight’
Russia’s Federation Council chairperson, for her part, said Tehran and Moscow have good cooperation in the fight against international terrorism and expressed hope the two sides would further work together in this regard.
Matvienko added that Iran and Russia have similar or close stances on many regional and international issues.
She said the implementation of the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries in July 2015, has created favorable grounds for Tehran-Moscow cooperation.
Heading a high-ranking political and economic delegation, Matvienko arrived in Tehran on Sunday for an official two-day visit to hold key talks with senior Iranian officials. She also plans to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Matvienko’s visit to Tehran comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to Iran on November 23, 2015 and held separate meetings with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and President Rouhani. Putin also participated in the third summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Tehran.
