Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic revolution, met with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, this afternoon (Wednesday). Welcoming the Russian president’s recommendation for expanding cooperation in all areas, Ayatollah Khamenei stated, "We must take advantage of useful experiences, during recent years, on regional issues and mutual relations to consolidate and develop our ties."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the two countries' economic cooperation capacity is far beyond the current level, adding: "In the transportation sector, we can expand cooperation, using the main axis of Chabahar port to the port of Saint-Petersburg, as well as in other economic areas.”
He referred to the great experience of cooperation between Iran and Russia, on the issue of Syria, by stating: "Results from this cooperation prove that Tehran and Moscow can achieve common goals in difficult arenas."
As a reminder, Ayatollah Khamenei asserted: "The failure of the American alliance in support of terrorists in Syria is an undeniable fact, but they are still engaged in plotting and conspiracy. Thus, the full resolution of the Syrian issue needs sustained, firm cooperation."
The Leader of the Revolution, mentioned that the joint Iranian-Russian resistance against Takfiri terrorists, supported by several foreign countries, will have important results, adding: "The good combination and the cooperative resistance of Tehran and Moscow against the sedition and corruption of terrorists in Syria is significant, and it has made Russia an influential player in the Western Asia region."
Ayatollah Khamenei called the Syrian people the main decision-makers on issues surrounding their country. He elucidated: As you mentioned, all of Syria's decisions and solutions on the government in Syria should originate from within this country. The Syrian government should not be pressured to implement any plans; and, as far as possible, the plans would better be thorough and all-encompassing.
The Leader of the Revolution agreed with the Russian president’s speech about the JCPOA and the necessity of complying with multilateral treaties, adding: "The Americans, unfortunately, continue their rebellion, which must be addressed by relying on reason and correct methods.
Ayatollah Khamenei also approved of Vladimir Putin's position on solving regional issues without external parties and reminded him: "The Americans seek to interfere in all issues of the region and the world and to do so, they rely on weak authorities in other countries."
The Supreme Leader touched, momentarily, on Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the region. He predicted that the Saudi's bloody interference in some countries, including their daily crimes in Yemen, will lead to Saudi Arabia's entanglement in major troubles. "They do not even allow medicine and aid to reach the oppressed Yemeni people, whom are plagued with deadly illnesses," Ayatollah Khamenei said of Saudi Arabia.
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic called for cooperation to counter US sanctions against Iran and Russia. He said, "By ignoring the negative propaganda of the enemies, that seek to weaken relations between countries, we can nullify US sanctions, using methods such as eliminating the dollar and replacing it with national currencies in transactions between two or more parties; thus, isolate the Americans."
He then called President Vladimir Putin a strong human, determined to make decisions and take action, stating: "That's why sensible discussions and cooperation on big movements, which require determination and hard work, is possible with Russia as a powerful state. Ayatollah Khamenei also deemed Putin’s proposal acceptable for furthering regional cooperation in various dimensions.
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During the meeting, which lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes, the Russian President expressed his satisfaction with his visit to Tehran and the meeting with the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, saying: We consider Iran a strategic partner and a great neighbor, and we will take advantage of every opportunity to expand and consolidate relationships in all dimensions.
President Putin then described his visit to the Iranian president as, "very well" and referred to energy, transportation, modern technologies, agriculture, and joint projects of oil, gas, and energy as "suitable areas for developing economic relations." The Russian president said exports of Iranian crops to Russia have risen 7 times, but there is still much capacity for cooperation in various fields.
Mr. Putin emphasized on the need to maintain stability and security in the region, in which he added: "We have achieved great results by our joint cooperation in Syria, and while the fight against terrorism should continue, a proper political process should be implemented in Syria."
Russia's President considered the positions of the Supreme Leader as very effective towards achieving common goals in Syria, stating "We showed the world that without the need for states outside of our region, we are able to solve our very important regional issues. Putin held maintenance of Syria’s territorial integrity and support of President Bashar al-Assad, as the legal president of Syria and his government, a principle of Russian foreign policy, saying: "We believe that any transformation in any country, including Syria, must originate from within that country.”
Declaring Moscow’s support for the JCPOA, the Russian president said, "We are opposed to any unilateral change in the provisions of this multilateral agreement, and we consider unilateralism as a violation of the international law and system." The Russian president added: "We consider changing the core principles of the IAEA as inappropriate, and we disagree with linking Iran's nuclear program to other issues, including defense capabilities." Vladimir Putin assured the Leader of the Revolution that defense-military cooperation between the two countries, within the framework of international regulations, could further develop.
Referring to the fact that some countries, from outside the region, seek to create war, Mr. Putin held: "The United States wants to interfere in all matters of the world and the region; and, to achieve its goal, if necessary, it even ignores the interests of its allies." Further remarking on US officials lying about Russia, in the United Nations Security Council negotiations, the Russian president said: "I did not think, at all, that at this level of international relations, such behavior would arise, but now we are accustomed to this kind of American behavior."
The Russian president, in brief, mentioned relying on domestic power as the country's main policy against US sanctions. He said, "Some Russian producers and traders pray that the US sanctions wouldn’t end because as a result of them, their capacities have started to attract attention." Putin went on to say: "From 2014, i.e. the start of US sanctions, we devoted our funds to scientific and technological progress, and we had significant growth in the fields of biotechnology, IT, agriculture and space industries. Now, in spite of the initial concerns, we have realized that we can do whatever we decide to."
In capping off the meeting, President Vladimir Putin stressed, "We will adhere to our principled positions, and when we start work with anyone, we will continue until the very end."
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