Iran, Russia Share Common Interests, Threats: Envoy
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanaei hailed the close relations between Tehran and Moscow, saying the two sides’ cooperation is based upon common interests and common threats.
Addressing a round table at Russia’s State Duma on Tuesday, Sanaei said the cooperation between Iran and Russia is shaped by the common threats that the two countries face, and the common interests they share in the region, particularly in the Middle East and Asia.
He also pointed to narcotics trafficking as one of the main common problems faced by the two countries, bemoaning the fact that drug production over the past 15 years has risen by 40 times following the NATO invasion of Afghanistan.
Another major threat is terrorism, which of course is a global threat, RIA quoted the ambassador as saying.
Hailing the victories achieved by Iran and Russian in the “genuine” fight against terrorism, Sanaei said the two countries are also opposing the unilateral policies of the US.
Denouncing the Western sanctions against Iran and Russia, the envoy said the new US nuclear arms policy is a threat to both Tehran and Moscow.
As regards the common interests contributing to cooperation between Iran and Russia, Sanaei said the two nations work together in the energy industry, stabilization of energy prices, as well as cooperation in the Caspian Sea.
On the international cooperation between Iran and Russia, the envoy lauded coordination within the framework of international organizations, such as the UN, and the “active and constructive” cooperation in implementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).
