Iran Keen for Closer Ties with Russia

TEHRAN– In a message to his Russian counterpart, Iran’s president hoped for a broadened scope of cooperation between the two countries at the international levels.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani congratulated Russia on its national day in a message to Vladimir Putin on Monday, according to Tasnim News Agancy.

He also expressed the hope that Tehran and Moscow would enhance bilateral, regional and international cooperation in light of the “major progress” in their ties in recent years and given their age-old relations.

Russia Day is the national holiday of the Russian Federation, celebrated on June 12. In 1990, Russian parliament formally declared Russian sovereignty from the Soviet Union. Russia Day has been celebrated every year since 1992.

Iran and Russia have formed a strong alliance in recent years, with both supporting the Syrian government against foreign-backed militancy.

Tehran and Moscow insist that the Syrian nation is the only side that has the right to shape the future of the Arab country, which has been gripped by war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups, including Daesh (ISIL), currently controlling parts of it.

Also since coming into force in January 2016 of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear deal between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), Tehran and Moscow have ramped up efforts to boost trade and political interaction.

M.Wassouf