Tehran – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut highlighted the widespread and continued consultations between Iran and Russia, saying that cooperation includes regional and international issues beyond bilateral relations.
He spoke at a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the capital Tehran on Tuesday.
“Consultations with Russia are ongoing in all sectors. In addition to our broad bilateral cooperation, we regularly exchange opinions on the development of Western Asia, the Caucasus and other strategic regions. “Araguchi said.
He further announced that the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Cooperation Committee will be convened soon. The committee will focus on strengthening economic ties in key sectors such as energy, rail and tourism, among others. Future meetings are expected to promote deeper economic integration and investment opportunities between the two countries.
In January, Iranian President Masuud Pezeshkian visited Moscow and signed a strategic partnership agreement with President Vladimir Putin, strengthening economic and military cooperation.
Arakitti reaffirmed the commonal status of Iran and Russia on important regional issues, particularly with regard to Palestine, Lebanon and Syria.
In Palestine, both countries condemned the latest proposals on the forced displacement of Gaza’s population, noting that they are unacceptable. He announced that Iran has requested an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to deal with the situation and coordinate a unified response.
Regarding Syria, Aragut emphasized that Iran and Russia share a common vision for ensuring peace and stability in the country. “Our position in Syria is very close. We both support a resolution that guarantees security and stability for the Syrian people,” he pointed out.
In Lebanon, he repeatedly supported Iran’s reconstruction efforts and called for the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied territory in southern Lebanon.
“We will not meet in person under maximum pressure.”
Top Iranian diplomats also addressed the ongoing debate surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, revealing that Tehran and Moscow are maintaining close consultations on the issue. “Our team is constantly in touch and we will continue to do this engagement,” he said.
“Iran’s stance on nuclear negotiations is solid. They will not negotiate under threat or sanctions. As long as the US continues its maximum pressure policy, direct negotiations between Tehran and Washington remain unavailable. “Araguchi insisted.
Lavrov highlights strengthening Iran-Russia cooperation in trade, infrastructure and diplomacy
One important point from the discussion was the substantial growth in trade between Iran and Russia despite Western sanctions. Lavrov highlighted this positive economic trend, noting that trade volume between the two countries has skyrocketed by more than 13% over the past year.
“We are pleased that trade exchanges between Iran and Russia are on the rise and we want to maintain this momentum,” Lavrov said. He added that the expansion of economic partnerships demonstrates the resilience of bilateral relations in the face of external pressure.
Lavrov also provided an update to the Rasht-Astara Railway Project. This is a key infrastructure initiative aimed at increasing connectivity between Iran and Russia as part of the Iranian-Russian corridor, designed to connect India to Northern Europe through Iran and Russia. This is the trade route.
“This is an important milestone in our efforts to establish a north-south corridor,” he said, highlighting the importance of logistics and transportation cooperation in deepening Iran-Russia’s economic ties.
The Russian Foreign Minister also praised the successful hosting of Iran’s Caspia Economic Forum. This is an event that highlights Tehran’s role as a key player in regional economic integration. He expressed confidence that the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Cooperation Committee, which is scheduled to meet later this year, will further solidify the trade and investment agreement between the two countries.
Turning to Iran’s nuclear program, Lavrov emphasized the importance of diplomacy in dealing with the ongoing crisis. He reaffirmed Russia’s attitude that negotiations and diplomatic engagement are the most viable path forward.
“We believe we still have diplomatic capabilities to solve Iran’s nuclear issue and hope that a solution can be found,” he said. Lavrov also emphasized that the current situation is not produced by Iran. This is a clear reference to Western policies that have fostered tensions over the country’s nuclear activities.
Lavrov meets Pezeshkian in Tehran and gives Putin a warm greeting
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also held a meeting with Iranian President Masuud Pezeshkian.
According to a report by Russian press Sputnik, Lavrov submitted a personal message of “warm greetings” from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Peshshkian in their discussions.