Ushakov made the announcement in a meeting with Iranian Leader's top adviser on international affairs, Ali Akbar Velayati, in Moscow on Tuesday, and conferred with the Iranian senior official on bilateral and regional cooperation as well as ways to expand and develop relations.
The Russian presidential aide referred to Iran’s important regional position, saying “Russia throws its weight behind expansion of bilateral, regional and multilateral relations with Iran and backs Iran’s full membership in Shanghai bloc.”
Iran has been an observer to the SCO since 2005 and has submitted its official request for full membership last year. Russia, Kyrgyzstan, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are the six permanent members of the SCO. Iran, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia have observer status at the organization.
Ushakov then touched upon Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to Iran, saying “President Putin expressed his complete satisfaction with the visit and the meeting with the Leader of Islamic Revolution; the visit has played a significant role in the two countries’ relations.”
He went on to add that the Russian President attaches special importance to the two countries’ relations in all areas, adding in order to expedite the process of expanding economic cooperation, Russia’s first deputy prime minister has been selected as a special representative to pursue the matters of mutual interest and issue the necessary orders for providing funding for Russia’s economic projects in Iran such as the construction of thermal power plants, nuclear reactors and other projects.
Velayati, for his part, stressed that Iran-Russia’s relations today stand at an unprecedented level and the two sides have a serious resolve for boosting relations further than ever.
“This strategic outlook can play an important part in establishing peace and stability in the region and the world,” he added.
Ali Akbar Velayati, the Head of Strategic Research Center at the Expediency Council, arrived in Moscow on Monday for a four-day visit. During his stay, he held talks with Alexei Pushkov, the chairman of the international committee of the Russian State Duma, Russia's Special Envoy on Syria Alexander Lavrentiev, and Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of Russia.
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