Relations between Russia and Iran will develop just as gradually as they did under the administration of the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, affirmed Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

"The relations between our countries develop quite successfully," Putin told Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on the sidelines of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum of major emerging economies held in St. Petersburg, Russia.

"Just recently, your country held presidential elections. I would like to express my hope and I have no doubts that the relations between Iran and the Russian Federation will develop just as gradually as they did during the service of Mr. Raisi, whose demise we all regret and mourn," the Russian leader added.

Iran became an official member of BRICS in January 2024 after the organization extended an invitation to the Islamic Republic to join its ranks during its 15th annual summit in South Africa in August 2023.

Expressing his satisfaction with Iran’s membership in BRICS, Putin noted that Russia had supported Iran’s accession to the organization.

Putin confirmed that Vyacheslav Volodin, the chairperson of Russia’s State Duma, will lead a delegation to Iran for the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian on July 30.

Earlier on Thursday, Ghalibaf and Volodin also had a meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS forum.

De-dollarization helps alleviate US pressure on emerging economies

Addressing the organization's 10th parliamentary forum, the Iranian Parliament Speaker said, "Iran and the republic’s parliament understand that supporting and strengthening relations with BRICS member countries, including this grouping’s development, is of paramount importance to them."

He also expressed his country's readiness to collaborate with BRICS member countries to achieve shared objectives, emphasizing that events like the BRICS Parliamentary Forum are instrumental in advancing such cooperation.

According to Ghalibaf, de-dollarization and the use of alternative currencies will help alleviate US pressure on emerging economies.

He emphasized that one of the key actions by BRICS is the adoption of national currencies to move away from relying on the US dollar. This measure, he added, reduces the financial pressure exerted by the US on emerging economies, often through sanctions imposed for political purposes.

The Iranian speaker also highlighted the organization's expansion as more nations are expressing interest in joining, which underscores BRICS’ significance in international relations.

Ghalibaf affirmed that Iran supports multilateralism, and therefore encourages BRICS countries to strengthen their cooperation to achieve ambitious goals, including global governance based on multilateralism.

He also stressed that the parliaments of BRICS member states can play a crucial role in facilitating trade and countering unilateralism.

"The BRICS Parliamentary Forum is a very important instrument to develop international relations, influence this world, and establish a new world order that would be more open, transparent and would result in more effective cooperation between our countries," Ghalibaf concluded.

On Thursday, Ghalibaf signed the memorandum of understanding on the BRICS Parliamentary Forum’s Protocol at the conclusion of the first day of the meeting.

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