Iran-Russia relations help in stabilizing region: Iran defense minister

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan says his country’s relations with Russia have helped in stabilizing the Middle East.

“The effective steps taken so far towards developing cooperation between the two countries have resulted in bolstering stability and security in the region,” said Dehghan during a meeting with visiting Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak in Tehran on Wednesday.

According to IRIB, both parties stressed the need for closer ties in battling terrorism and supporting other countries facing it.

“The current conditions require Iran and Russia… to develop their cooperation in the political, economic and defense spheres,” added Dehghan.

Heading a 50-member Russian delegation, Novak is in Iran to discuss bilateral ties particularly the expansion of mutual cooperation in the oil industry.

He also held a meeting with Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian where the two discussed the establishment of a thermal power plant in the south of Iran and the modernization of current stations constructed by Russia in Iran.

Earlier in the day, he met with the Iranian minister of communications and information technology, Mahmoud Vaezi. Following the meeting, Vaezi announced that Russia has pledged to issue a credit line of $5 billion for joint projects with Iran.

According to reports, during his stay in Tehran, the Russian energy minister is expected to discuss Iran-Russia cooperation in the energy sector as well as the global oil prices and cooperation between OPEC and non-OPEC countries.