Alwaght- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday met with Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hosein Dehqan in Moscow.
The Iranian defense chief described as “very good and constructive” the defense and security cooperation between Iran and Russia, saying Tehran and Moscow enjoy “strategic and long-term relations.”
Stating that the two countries’ presidents are determined to expand all-out ties, Dehqan said “such cooperation can offer a proper model for regional cooperation.”
Putin, for his part, expressed satisfaction with defense and security cooperation between Iran and Russia, which he said is in line with the mutual interests of the two countries, and called for the promotion of such ties within the framework of implemented agreements.
The Russian president highlighted strategic relations between Tehran and Moscow in containing regional crises and said the two countries play an important role in the establishment of sustainable security in the region.
Dehqan is currently on a working visit to Russia. Earlier, the Iranian embassy to Russia said the country’s defense minister had arrived in Moscow to meet with his Russia counterpart, Sergey Shoigu, and some other Russian top officials.
Meanwhile Iran and Russia have stressed the importance of strengthening military cooperation as an important factor in promoting regional peace, stability and security.
In a meeting in Moscow on Tuesday, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin discussed mutual relations and the latest regional and international developments.
They said enhanced Tehran-Moscow cooperation in regional and international areas is important and urged decisive and all-out fight against Takfiri terrorist groups operating in the Middle East and Africa.
Elsewhere Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has met with Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan in Moscow. The two parties discussed the implementation of a military cooperation agreement signed last year, pledged to develop military cooperation between the countries, and exchanged their views on current security issues in the Middle East and Central Asia. Shoigu said the meeting would contribute to further improving “friendly relations” between Russia and Iran, and added the efficiency of Russian and Iranian counter-terror measures would depend on the implementation of bilateral agreements.
Iran and Russia signed an agreement on the delivery of the S-300 missile system to Tehran, which was banned by Moscow back in 2010 under the pretext that the deal was covered by the fourth round of the UN Security Council sanctions, which barred hi-tech weapons sales to the Islamic Republic.
On February 10, the Iranian defense chief said the country will take delivery of the first batch of Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air missile defense system in the first quarter of 2016. Dehqan added that the Islamic Republic will receive the second batch by the first half of 2017.
Iranian Defense Minister’s two-day visit to Moscow will including the signing of an $8 billion arms contract to buy Russian military hardware, business daily Kommersant reported on Tuesday.
The Interfax news agency says special emphasis will be placed on the signing of new arms deals, not on the fulfillment of existing contracts such as the delivery of anti-aircraft missile systems.
"Iran would like to buy Russia's latest S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system, developed by Almaz-Antey. And they make no secret of it. On the eve of his visit to Moscow Dehghan openly said to Iranian media they want to purchase the S-400s," the source said.
Iran needs to "seriously focus on its air force and fighter jets," said Dehghan prior his visit to Moscow. "We are moving toward a contract. We told them that we need to be involved in the production (of the plane) as well," he added.
According to Interfax’s source, the second important topic of the talks is Tehran’s possible procurement, or even a licensed production of the new Russian Sukhoi Su- 30SM multi-role fighter.
Iran is also interested in Russia’s Bastion mobile coastal defense missile system, equipped with supersonic Yakhont anti-ship missiles, along with Mi-8/17 helicopters and other arms.
