Iran and Russia have called for an increase in trade between the two countries, while denouncing foreign involvement in regional conflicts.
ISNA reports that in a telephone conversation, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev stressed that they share similar views on the developments and external pressures in the region. They called for close coordinated efforts between Iran and Russia to find a peaceful solution to these developments.
Medvedev said: “Russia, like the Islamic Republic, supports the path of peaceful political talks to resolve regional issues and opposes all foreign military interference in these countries.”
Medvedev spoke strongly about the possibility of increasing economic relations between the two countries and eliminating the U.S. dollar in trade relations in favour of national currencies. “The mutual trade capacity for Iran and Russia is far beyond the current volume, and Russia intends to promote relations between the two countries.”
Iran’s nuclear activities were also discussed during the call, and both sides stressed that Iran has a right to avail itself of peaceful energy production through its nuclear program. They also agreed on the “usefulness” of continuing step-by-step talks with the G5+1 over their nuclear concerns.
The telephone exchange between the Iranian and Russian leaders comes at a time when the U.S. and the European Union are geared toward increasing sanctions against Iran. The EU is considering an embargo on Iranian oil, while both the U.S. and the EU have imposed sanctions on Iran’s Central Bank.
Meanwhile, China has also expressed concern over the growing unilateral sanctions against Iran and stressed that nuclear disputes with Iran can only be resolved through diplomatic means.
