New Iranian President calls Russia a valuable strategic ally

According to RIA Novosti, Iran's new President Masoud Pezeshkian - who was elected on July 7, said Russia is a valuable strategic ally and neighbor of Iran. Tehran will continue to expand and strengthen cooperation.

“Russia is a valuable strategic ally and neighbor of Iran, and my administration will continue to expand and strengthen our cooperation,” the Tehran Times quoted the new president as saying in an article titled “A Message to the New World” on July 12.

Besides, the Iranian President emphasized: “China and Russia have continuously supported us in difficult times. We deeply appreciate this friendship.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian held a telephone conversation on July 8, during which the Russian president congratulated his Iranian counterpart on his election victory. The two sides also expressed satisfaction with the high level of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their readiness to continue developing mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

Iran's IRNA news agency reported that during the conversation, President Pezeshkian announced his readiness to sign a comprehensive agreement with Russia on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, scheduled to be held in Kazan, Russia's Republic of Tatarstan in October 2024.