Rouhani urges promotion of Iran-Russia relations

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called for the promotion of Iran-Russia relations above the existing level.

In a Thursday telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Rouhani pointed to the bilateral agreements inked between Tehran and Moscow on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, in September.

“Some measures should be adopted, so we can quickly implement Bishkek agreements and take more important measures regarding the two countries’ ties,” President Rouhani added.

The two presidents also discussed major bilateral, regional and international issues.

The Iranian president pointed to the ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the Sextet of world powers – the United States, Britain, Russia, China, France and Germany – and said the two sides have reached a sensitive juncture in achieving a final deal.

Rouhani also praised Russia’s positive role in the course of the nuclear negotiations and expressed optimism that other members of the Sextet would help with an immediate settlement of the issue through constructive interactions.

The Russian president, for his part, praised Iran’s constructive role during the nuclear negotiations and pledged that Moscow will do its best to help finalize the deal on Iran’s nuclear energy program.

President Putin invited Rouhani to the upcoming summit of the Caspian Sea littoral states scheduled to be held in the Russian port city of Astrakhan in September.

On Friday, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said Iran and Russia are set to finalize an agreement they have reached for broader economic and trade cooperation.

Iran-Russia trade currently totals USD 5 billion a year, but economists say they can at least quadruple the volume of their trade exchanges.