Russia’s ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Ragozin, plans a trip to Iran by the end of September to discuss defence issues.
Russia’s state news agency Ria Novosti reports that he will make the trip if Iran puts forth a “serious counterpart” to meet with him.
“I hope that this mission to Tehran will be fruitful with meetings that would allow me to give a real picture to the Russian president of the programs and activities of our southern neighbour in terns of regional security and expanding the rocket program,” Ragozin said.
Ragozin added that Iran is interested in Russia’s position on a proposed anti-missile shield for southern European countries.
The U.S. has announced plans to establish an anti-missile shield in Romania. Iran maintains that U.S. anti-missile shields in Romania and Turkey are a threat to its security.
Russia was previously opposed to these shields but has recently said it will not object, so long as the shields aren’t aimed at Russia.
NATO has said the shield would not be aimed at Russia and even raised the possibility of issuing written agreements to certify that.
Ragozin added that Russia is keen to hear Iran’s explanation of the missile-expansion programs that “our American and European counterparts keep warning us about.”
