TEHRAN, Oct. 23 (MNA) – Iranian and Russian presidents have stressed the need for immediate signing of the strategic cooperation agreement between the two nations.

Iranian and Russian presidents Masoud Pezeshkian and Vladimir Putin met on Wednesday on the sidelines of the BRICS meeting in Kazan.

In their talks, Pezeshkian and Putin said that a "comprehensive cooperation agreement" between the two countries will be signed "soon".

In the meeting, high-ranking delegations from both sides, including the foreign ministers of the two countries, were also present.

Putin, for his part reminded that his country has "actively" supported Iran's full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS. He said it is very important that a "comprehensive agreement for bilateral cooperation" be signed as soon as possible and thanked Pezeshkian for accepting a separate trip for this purpose.

The Iranian president, for his part, called the relations between the two countries "strategic", describing Russia as a "friendly" country. 

“I believe that the relationship between Iran and Russia is strategic and highly beneficial for both countries,” the Iranian president said.

“I also see the BRICS framework, along with the Eurasian Economic Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization—of which we are members with Russian support—as a suitable platform for constructive interaction,” he added, according to Press TV.

Pezeshkian expressed optimism that economic, political, scientific, cultural, and commercial relations between the two countries would expand further.

The Iranian president hoped the two sides would sign the much-anticipated comprehensive cooperation agreement during his upcoming official visit to Moscow.

Pezeshkian also hoped the BRICS members could further work to effectively counter US unilateralist and hegemonic policies worldwide and reduce the impact of sanctions against Iran and Russia.

"BRICS members can help to disrupt the US totalitarianism," Pezeshkian said.

He emphasized that whenever there is a problem in the progress of the cooperation agreement, they should come to him directly.

MNA