Russia, Iran discuss regional cooperation
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday, 29 March, in Moscow to discuss regional cooperation, the war in Ukraine and Saudi Arabia, according to Press TV.
“Reviews on the long-term strategic cooperation agreement between the two countries have been finalized in Russia. Iran has also examined it. I hope that in less than a month, the final revision of the agreement will be carried out by Iran’s Foreign Ministry,” Iran’s foreign minister said during the meeting.
“High-ranking Iranian and Russian delegations at different levels are exchanging views, and the presidents of the two countries are in constant contact with each other,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Russian foreign minister affirmed that there was no alternative to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and that the agreement should be implemented as soon as possible.
“The world is waiting for the United States to return to its obligations under the nuclear agreement” and to “the need to lift all sanctions,” Lavrov added.
In addition, Abdollahian said there were still some outstanding issues with Saudi Arabia but that they would not be an obstacle to resuming relations with its Gulf neighbor.
“There are still some outstanding problems between Saudi Arabia and Iran, but they cannot be considered obstacles to resuming relations and opening embassies,” he said, adding that his discussions with his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, have been fruitful.
In 2001, Iran and Russia signed a 10-year cooperation agreement, which was extended by two five-year-extensions.
Amir-Abdollahian also said that the relationship with Russia is on the right track and expressed his hopes for cooperation to continue and intensify.
Earlier in March, Saudi Arabia and Iran signed a historic bilateral reconciliation deal in Beijing, China, to reestablish diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies.
Iran and Saudi Arabia are largely at odds when it comes to regional politics and ideology; however, the recent agreement signed between both states is an important step to reestablishing its relationship, which had been at its worst point when protesters in Iran attacked the diplomatic mission of Saudi Arabia, following the execution of prominent Saudi Arabian Shia cleric Sheik Nimr Bakir al-Nimr.
