Tehran, Moscow will benefit from energy, transport, cooperation: Raisi

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
24 Jan 2023 19:22
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The Russian State Duma Speaker visits Tehran and discusses with Iranian officials energy, trade, and transport cooperation among other files.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi with Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin in Tehran

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi indicated on Monday that the potentials of Russia and Iran can complement each other in order to achieve the interests of the two countries, in particular, to develop energy and transport cooperation.

Raisi met with Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin in Tehran to discuss energy, trade, and transport cooperation among other files.

The Iranian President pointed out that Russia and Iran "have diverse, numerous capacities in the fields of energy, transit, and transportation that can be activated for developing cooperation."

According to Raisi, "the capacities of the two sides can complement each other, and their use can create regional benefits in addition to securing the interests of the two countries."

On his part, Volodin underlined that Moscow's agenda is spurred by the desire of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Raisi to develop cooperation.

During the meeting, the Russian State Duma Speaker stressed that Russia and Iran stand for a just world order and call for ensuring global and regional security.

"Western dictatorship can only be opposed to the freedom of development of countries and peoples," Volodin indicated, adding that "preserving sovereignty and independence is of paramount importance for the two countries."

Volodin arrived in Tehran on Sunday on an official visit heading a Russian parliamentary delegation.

Tehran-Moscow relations significantly expanded over past year

On Monday, the Russian official met with the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, on the sidelines of the third meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Commission on Cooperation between the State Duma and the Parliament of Iran.

Iranian news agency ISNA quoted Qalibaf as saying that relations between Tehran and Moscow have significantly expanded over the past year and "will reach new highs as the seventh development plan is implemented."

The Iranian official underlined that "relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia are of great importance in the light of various circumstances, including the fact that both our countries have access to the Caspian Sea and [based on] our common interests in the region and our international cooperation."

Qalibaf underlined that countering US sanctions imposed against Russia and Iran requires the deepening of relations and coordination between Moscow and Tehran.

"These issues [sanctions] require taking strategic measures on deepening of relations [between Russia and Iran] in all areas, with cooperation and greater coordination, especially between the leaders and officials of the two states," Qalibaf indicated, according to IRNA.

Russia, Iran successfully countering US, NATO expansion

During the meeting, Volodin affirmed that Russia and Iran are successfully countering the US and NATO expansion, pointing out that the unprecedented sanctions imposed against Moscow and Tehran are proof of this success.

According to Volodin, Washington and its allies are seeking to halt Russia’s and Iran’s development, "interfere in their domestic affairs, disseminate disinformation," stressing that "such attempts are doomed to failure. Our countries will never yield to foreign commands."

He also underlined that "Russia and Iran are defending the principles of sovereign equality and non-interference in the domestic affairs of other countries. They stand for multipolarity and a just world order in the interests of our peoples."

The State Duma Chairman considered that "cooperating more effectively in the financial and banking sector should become one of the key areas for the development" of Russian-Iranian relations.

Volodin said that "it is important to more intensively use settlements in national currencies."

The Russian official reiterated that Russia stands for a "fair world order and for a multipolar world," pointing out that "only a sovereign state can ensure the development of a human being on the basis of its culture, history, language, respecting his or her traditions and beliefs."

"A country which has lost its sovereignty cannot do this. Its citizens will be doomed to profess a religion, culture, traditions, and study the history of the country that enslaved them," he added.

Elsewhere, Volodin indicated that "relations between Russia and Iran are developing dynamically."