Ir8k8 slotan, Russia discuss expansion of bilateral ties

TEHRAN - Iran's President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday exchanged views on the promotion of bilateral relations, according to the official news agency IRNA.

In a phone call, the two sides voiced their countries' readiness to sign a comprehensive cooperation agreement on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Russia's Kazan in late October.

Pezeshkian said Iran attached great importance to its relations with friendly and neighboring countries and would undoubtedly strengthen such ties.

He added his administration would be focused on following up on and implementing the bilateral agreements reached during the term of Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, who lost his life in a helicopter crash on May 19.

Pezeshkian described it as important cooperation between the two countries within the frameworks of regional and international organizations, coalitions and treaties, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and the Eurasian Economic Union.

He said the documents pertaining to the comprehensive cooperation agreement between Tehran and Moscow had been finalized and Iran was prepared to sign them on the sidelines of the upcoming BRICS summit.

For his part, the Russian president congratulated Pezeshkian on his election as Iran's ninth president, wishing him success in fulfilling his new responsibility.

Putin said the bilateral relations were at the highest level, hoping that bilateral ties would continue during Iran's next administration by implementing the agreements reached between the two sides in Raisi's term.

He pointed to expanding bilateral relations, especially in the energy and transportation sectors, inviting Pezeshkian to attend the upcoming BRICS summit.

Putin assured that Russia was ready to sign the comprehensive cooperation agreement with Iran on the sidelines of the Kazan summit.

Pezeshkian was announced as Iran's next president on Saturday following his victory in a runoff against Saeed Jalili, a former chief nuclear negotiator.