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Russia’s defense chief says ties with Iran reached new heights
Russia and Iran’s ties have reached a new level in spite of the opposition from the US and its Western allies, Moscow’s defense minister Sergei Shoigu said on Wednesday.
“We are aimed at implementing the entire range of planned activities, despite opposition from the United States and its Western allies. Sanctions pressure on Russia and Iran shows its futility, while Russian-Iranian interaction is reaching a new level,” Shoigu said at negotiations with his Iranian counterpart as cited by state news agency TASS.
“Today, we have an opportunity to discuss in detail topical issues of bilateral military cooperation. Iran is Russia’s strategic partner in the Middle East,” he said.
Shoigu stated that Moscow was ready “for further joint actions in the field of strengthening stability and security in the Middle East.” He added: “We note with satisfaction that today the Russian-Iranian dialogue is developing especially intensively.”
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He said: “The improved dynamics of the meetings confirms the general mood for further strengthening of the strategic partnership in the defense sector and military cooperation
Iran’s armed forces chief of staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri was cited by TASS as saying that Tehran and Moscow are far from implementation of the full potential of military cooperation between the two countries.
“Although our relations have been developing in the recent years, we are still far from the realization of the full potential that the two countries have. We are very far from this point, and we have to do a lot in order to take full advantage of the existing potential for cooperation,” TASS reported Bagheri as saying.
He added: “The military area is the driver and the forefront for development of relations between Iran and Russia, and holding such events as military consultations and commission may contribute to a sharp development of relations between the two countries.”
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