A Russian deputy foreign minister described Moscow-Tehran relations as "deep" and "growing", expressing his country's keenness to expand wide-ranging ties with the Islamic Republic.
Igor Morgulov made the remarks in a meeting with Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanaei in Moscow, Fars news agency reported on Thursday.
The two officials met ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS summits scheduled to be held on July 9-10 in the Russian city of Ufa in Bashkortostan. Expressing hope that President Hassan Rouhani would take part in the upcoming summits, the Russian official said exchange of political and economic delegations between the two sides is "helpful" and "constructive".
The ambassador underlined the significance of the two coinciding events and hoped they will bring about enhanced cooperation among the participating countries.
Sanaei pointed to the two countries' efforts to promote political and economic relations, urging strengthened collaboration at bilateral, regional and international levels. Founded in 2001 in Shanghai by leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the SCO is a Eurasian political, economic and military organization. Iran has observer status in the organization.
BRICS (the acronym for an association of five major emerging economies, including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) includes developing or newly industrialized countries which are distinguished by their large, fast-growing economies and significant influence on regional and global affairs. Since 2010, BRICS nations have met annually at formal summits. Russia currently holds the presidency of BRICS.
