WANA (Apr 18) – The foreign ministers of Iran and Russia emphasized the close ties between their countries during a bilateral meeting.

 

On Friday, during the second day of his visit to Moscow, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

 

In the meeting, Araghchi thanked Russian officials for their warm hospitality towards the Iranian delegation and said, “We had a good and lengthy meeting with Mr. Putin yesterday, during which I delivered the Supreme Leader’s written message to him.”

 

Araghchi stated that “this message was addressed to Mr. Putin and to the world,” and added, “It emphasized that Iran considers Russia a key strategic partner and engages in consultations with it on important issues.”

 

He continued, “Iran-Russia relations may have never been as close and solid as they are today.”

 

Referring to the signing of a comprehensive strategic treaty between Iran and Russia last year, Araghchi said, “This treaty emphasizes the expansion of relations in various fields and provides a long-term vision for the future of bilateral ties.”

 

The senior Iranian diplomat also noted, “We have many issues to consult on today — including bilateral, regional, and international matters.”

 

At the beginning of the meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov welcomed the Iranian delegation and said, “Earlier this year, during Mr. Pezeshkian’s visit to Moscow, the comprehensive cooperation treaty between our two countries was signed, and it is now in the process of final ratification in Russia.”

 

He added, “In February, I also traveled to Tehran and held talks with Mr. Araghchi and several other Iranian officials.”

 

Lavrov stated, “The treaty signed between Iran and Russia provides a strong foundation for enhancing the quality of interactions between the two nations.”

 

He continued, “Today is a good opportunity for in-depth discussions on all issues.”

 

Lavrov also referred to Araghchi’s meeting with the Russian President the day before, saying, “There was a lengthy conversation with President Putin yesterday, and he was very pleased with the outcome.”

 

He concluded, “Yesterday’s meeting confirmed that the pace of political dialogue between our countries is truly exceptional.”