“I consider it my duty to thank Russia for the efforts it has made in resolving and negotiating the Iranian nuclear program, and for the personal efforts made by Mr. [Foreign Minister Sergei] Lavrov,” Rouhani said at a Thursday meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the joint summits of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the Russian city of Ufa.
Rouhani further highlighted Moscow’s “outstanding role” in both regional and international issues.
Putin, in turn, described the Islamic Republic as his country’s “traditional reliable partner,” stressing that Tehran-Moscow relations “are developing and have been positive despite all the difficulties in the global economy and the well-known restrictions.”
“Overall, we can be content with the way our relations have developed. There are always issues that require our special attention, and I am glad of this opportunity to talk about it today,” added the Russian leader.
The talks between Rouhani and Putin come amid last-ditch diplomatic efforts by Iran and the P5+1 – Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany – in Vienna, Austria, to work out a final agreement on the Iranian nuclear case.
Rouhani arrived in Russia on Wednesday night for a two-day visit, which comes at the invitation of Putin. The Iranian president is slated to take part in the summit of BRICS group of emerging powers -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – as a special guest.
He is also scheduled to address the SCO summit as a keynote speaker on the second day of his trip. He will have an observer seat at the event.