Iran, Russia can use capacities to counter US sanctions: Majlis speaker

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf says Iran and Russia enjoy important capacities that can be used to counter the US sanctions imposed on both countries.

"The Russian Federation is a member of the Security Council and has close relations with Iran in various social, cultural, political and the environmental sectors. We should make maximum use of the opportunity of the Joint High Parliamentary Commission between the two countries," Qalibaf said at a joint press conference with Russia's State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin in Tehran on Monday.

He added that Tehran and Moscow face common threats posed by the illegal US sanctions, stressing the importance of improving bilateral cooperation and adopting strategic measures to enhance relations in all fields.

The top Iranian parliamentarian said Tehran and Moscow should expand banking and trade cooperation and use national currencies for transactions.

Tehran and Moscow both have been targeted with US-led sanctions in recent years, but the sanctions have failed to secure Western countries’ interests.

US sanctions pave way for closer Iran-Russia cooperation: Atlantic Council

The wave of US sanctions against Russia amid the Ukraine war has opened new opportunities for Iran – also a prime target of US hegemonic belligerence -- to build an economic alliance with the major global power, a US-based think tank says

Russia has been targeted with draconian sanctions following its February “special military operation” in neighboring Ukraine. The US has also tightened its sanctions on Iran since 2018, when Washington unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in pursuit of a more confrontational policy toward Tehran.

US sanctions boost solidarity between Iran, Russia: Volodin

The Russian State Duma speaker, for his part, said the sanctions imposed by the US and its allies on Iran and Russia have increased solidarity between the two countries.

Volodin added that Iran and Russia currently enjoy the highest level of cooperation in various sectors which are based on the principles of mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs.

He expressed hope that an Iranian parliamentary delegation would travel to Moscow this year to attend a security conference.

Iran, Russia reach common understanding of sensitive issues, cooperation: Qalibaf

In a meeting with Volodin earlier in the day, Qalibaf said the 3rd session of the Iran-Russia High Joint Commission was held as both countries have reached a common understanding of sensitive issues and cooperation.

He expressed hope that Tehran and Moscow would promote parliamentary relations in 2023 in politico-economic and strategic fields.

The Iranian Parliament speaker urged the two countries' officials to make maximum use of the opportunities and turn threats into chances.

He also stressed the importance of implementing a strategic agreement between the two countries at the earliest possible time.

Iran and Russia are eyeing a twenty-year strategic partnership treaty that would lay out the roadmap for future expansion of ties at all levels, from politics to economy and security.

Iran-Russia ties developing dynamically based on presidents' decisions: Volodin

For his part, Volodin said relations between Russia and Iran are developing dynamically on the basis of decisions taken by their presidents and the two parliaments should now convert them into laws.

"Relations between Russia and Iran are developing dynamically. The presidents of our countries show an example of how to develop relations and to do everything for mutual understanding. For our part, we need to do everything in order to support the decisions reached at the highest level legislatively," the State Duma speaker said.

No hindrance in way of improvement of Iran-Russia ties: Pres. Raeisi tells Putin in Moscow

Meeting Putin in Moscow, President Raeisi says there is no hindrance lying in the way of improvement of Iran-Russia ties.

He added that Tehran and Moscow also need to develop their parliamentary relations.

He said the third meeting of the two countries joint commission will allow legislators of both sides to "not only better understand each other, but also to build up the work for the final result, making it more substantive."

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