Pres. Rouhani:

Iran-Russia coop. bolsters sustainable stability in region

TEHRAN (defapress) – President Rouhani deemed “positive” and “growing” Iran-Russia’s cooperation on settling crises and promoting peace and sustainable stability in the Middle East.

News ID: 67104

Date: 23 November 2017 - 10:09

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani made the remark in a bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin Wednesday evening on the sidelines of the tripartite summit of Iran, Russia and Turkey on Syrian settlement, which he described as "an important step in establishing sustainable peace and stability in Syria and the region.”

The Iranian president stressed the need for continued cooperation between Iran, Russia and Turkey in the direction of bolstering national sovereignty in Syria and the formation of the National Congress of Syrian Dialogue in Sochi.

"Development of Russia-Iran relations will be in the interest of the region and will never be against any other country,” he added.

Referring to discussions of the leaders of the three countries on the holding of the Syria National Dialogue in Sochi, Rouhani stressed that the sooner the congress is held, the more it will help the strengthening of stability in Syria, "which is in the interest of all."

"Iran-Russia cooperation in settling the crisis in Syria can serve as a model for resolving other regional issues,” he stressed.

Rouhani went on to voice Iran’s readiness to promote cooperation with Russia on peaceful nuclear activities, adding "violation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is not in the interest of any of the negotiating parties. Iran, as it has repeatedly stated, will never be the first one to violate it, but it will not remain silent on the violation of the agreement.”

"The JCPOA is a multilateral and international agreement and its full implementation by the parties to the deal is imperative and in the interests of all,” he added.

Elsewhere, Rouhani touched upon the situation in Yemen, calling for an end to the attacks and the killing of people, as well as providing humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, for his part, stressed that "Tehran-Moscow relations and cooperation will be developed on issues of mutual interest.”

"We need to increase our joint efforts to make progress on the political settlement of the Syrian crisis," said the Russian president, while noting good opportunities for the development of full cooperation between Iran and Russia.

Putin further welcomed the continuation of peaceful nuclear cooperation between Tehran and Moscow, underscoring the for a full implementation of the JCPOA; "The Iran nuclear deal is an important international agreement and its violation by any government is unacceptable for us,” he added.

The two sides also called for joint efforts to accelerate the drawing up of the legal regime of the Caspian Sea.