Deputy chief: Rouhani will visit Russia to ‘expand cooperation’

TEHRAN, Iran (Kurdistan24) – The president of Iran is expected to travel to Moscow on Monday and meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Iran and Russia have strengthened their political and diplomatic relationship recently, especially with joint operations in Syria.

Rouhani’s two-day visit was at the official invitation of President Putin.

The meeting scheduled for Tuesday will include discussions about energy, infrastructure, technology, and their alliance in the Middle East.

Rouhani’s deputy chief of staff for communications and information Parviz Esmaeili said Iranian and Russian officials would sign “agreements to expand cooperation.”

Moreover, Iranian Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanai said the two sides were “preparing more than ten documents for signing” during the visit.

The Iranian president will also meet with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Both Iran and Russia, battling Syrian rebels, are allies of President Bashar al-Assad.

Ellie Geranmayeh, an expert on Iranian foreign policy, said Iran and Russia’s relationship had evolved since the beginning of military operations in Syria.

“Since the Russians got more heavily involved in Syria, the relationship between Moscow and Tehran has entered a new phase,” Geranmayeh explained.

In 2015, Russia played a significant role in a nuclear deal which removed economic sanctions against Iran.

In August 2016, Russian warplanes used the Nojeh air base in northwestern Iran to target armed groups in Syria.

Additionally, the two countries, along with Turkey, are involved in negotiations to end the six-year-long Syrian civil war.

The visit to Russia is expected to be Rouhani’s final major trip before he faces re-election in May.