The visiting secretary of the Russian Security Council Igor Ivanov met the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Sunday, January 28.
Speaking at the meeting, which was also attended by the secretary of the Iranian National Security Council Ali Larijani, the Leader stated that the expansion of cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia will yield valuable results. He added that the two countries can act as complementary partners in political and economic spheres as well as in regional and international arenas.
Ayatollah Khamenei also expressed pleasure over receiving a written message from Russian President Vladimir Putin. He pointed out that the Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the expansion of relations with Russia in all areas, and that the Iranian officials hold the view that there is plenty of room for the expansion of bilateral ties between the two countries.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic referred to the fact that Russia and Iran own half of the world's gas reserves. He stated that the two countries can cooperate in laying the foundations of an organization for cooperation and coordination among gas exporting countries, an organization similar to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei touched on the present situation in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and Lebanon and the attempts that are being made by the United States to further its unilateralist objectives.
"Despite all its attempts, the United States has not been able to achieve its goals in this region, and the active cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia on regional issues within a definite framework can help to counteract the U.S. unilateralism," Ayatollah Khamenei told the Russian official.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic also referred to the emphasis placed by the Russian president in his message on the continuation of Tehran-Moscow cooperation in all areas, especially on the Moscow's intention to complete the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. He expressed the hope that the previous undertakings would be fulfilled at a faster pace.
The secretary of the Russian Security Council Igor Ivanov, for his part, put emphasis on the Moscow's firm intention to expand its relations with Tehran in all areas. He said that the Russian president believes that the two countries should utilize all their capabilities to consolidate their regional and international and strategic relations and cooperation.
Describing his negotiations with the Iranian officials in Tehran as ‘positive', Ivanov further said that the Russian government holds the view that the prospects for cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran are very good and promising.