Leader’s Advisor Receives Putin’s Message

Ali Akbar Veleyati, a senior advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, received a written message from Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday. 
The letter, delivered by Russia’s ambassador to Tehran, was Putin’s response to Ayatollah Khamenei’s earlier message taken to Moscow by Majlis Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf on Feb. 8, IRNA reported. 
The leader had underlined the “strong and strategic nature of relations between Iran and Russia”, which has rendered them insusceptible to political changes and unilateral approaches throughout the world.   
During his meeting with Russian envoy Levan Jagarian, Velayati described the two countries as “important friends” whose “strategic ties were characterized by “mutual respect”. 
The advisor highlighted longstanding Tehran-Moscow ties further deepened by regional developments. 
Velayati cited the decisive contribution of Iran and Russia upon the request of Syria to assist the latter’s anti-terror struggle, and their contribution to restoration of peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia late last year as important instances of their successful cooperation. 
The Russia ambassador expressed satisfaction over the progressive quality of bilateral ties, noting that the countries had taken “effective steps” for enhancing these relations.