Western pressure cannot impede further advances in Russia-Iran relations— Kosachyov

Chair of the Federation Committee on Foreign Affairs Konstantin Kosachyov held a meeting with the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations delegation led by its chair, Seyed Kamal Kharazi.

“Russia and Iran are now under the West’s sanctions and political pressure, but this is no obstacle to the further development of bilateral Russian-Iranian relations,” Konstantin Kosachyov said.

“Russian-Iranian cooperation is developing fruitfully and intensively in all areas, including inter-parliamentary ties,” he added. As an example, Konstantin Kosachyov cited the recent joint meeting of the foreign affairs committees of both chambers of the Russian Federal Assembly, which was attended by MPs from Turkey and Iran. “These trilateral contacts are not a carbon copy of the Astana Format. The Russian, Iranian and Turkish members of parliament reviewed a broader range of issues, which makes it possible to hope that we will pool efforts to build a multipolar world based on regard for national interests, non-interference in internal affairs, and respect for the rights of our countries and peoples to independent and sovereign development.”

According to Seyed Kamal Kharazi, the Iranian and Russian views on solving many of today’s strategic problems are close or identical.

Seyed Kamal Kharazi noted that Iran and Russia shared common issues and common interests, and both countries needed to cooperate most intensively at all levels to address them.

Konstantin Kosachyov and Seyed Kamal Kharazi exchanged views on the US withdrawal from the JCPOA and the situation in the Middle East and Central Asia. They also discussed how to strengthen security in Syria and reviewed current bilateral matters.