During the meeting on Wednesday, Zarif referred to Russia’s significant role, both in the region and in the international scene, and evaluated his Russian counterpart’s visit of Iran at this particular period of time of great importance.
He expressed the hope that their meeting would mark the start point for materializing the two countries’ will for comprehensive Tehran-Moscow cooperation.
Zarif further reiterated, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready for further expansion of cooperation in entire fields of mutual interest more than ever before.”
The Iranian top diplomat said that it was necessary to devise a framework for regular consultations and meetings in all possible levels and to figure out a mechanism for long term cooperation, describing the 11th session of the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Cooperation Commission in near future a good opportunity for this purpose.
Zarif said that the required political will for having a comprehensive, long term relation with the northern neighbor, Russia, does exist in Iran, adding that the two countries’ cooperation is to the benefit of the two countries, the two nations, and the regional and international peace and security.
Focusing on the roles played by Iran and Russia in the region and the world and Tehran-Moscow consultations and cooperation in regional and international scenes, he said that they include shared work in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, the Middle East, the Caspian Sea, and the nuclear field, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which are of great significance.
The Russian foreign minister, for his part, pointed to the positive and constructive results of the Iranian and Russian presidents’ on the sidelines of the Bishkek SCO Summit Meeting.
He added, “The presidents of the two countries emphasized that the two countries’ relations in economic, cultural, and regional fields must be strengthened and pursued more effectively, and we too, welcome pursuing more effective political consultations between the two countries.”
He said that his visit of Iran had provided a good opportunity for pursuing the implementation of the agreements reached between the two countries’ presidents.
“We emphasize the need for having a long term perspective for bilateral ties, and are ready for cooperation in political, economic, and cultural fields in regional and international scenes,” Lavrov added.
