Iran, Russia vow to counter 'common challenges'
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E-mail Xinhua, January 21, 2015
Iran and Russia on Tuesday agreed to expand their cooperation in the face of "common challenges."
The agreement was made in the meeting between Iranian defense minister and his Russian counterpart in the capital Tehran on Tuesday.
Iran and Russia, two neighboring states, share common views on the international and regional issues and should use their capacities to promote their cooperation, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said.
The Islamic republic has the responsibility to fight terrorism, and will help countries in the region to defend themselves against the terrorists, he said.
Iran is also committed to helping maintain security and stability in the region, the Iranian minister said, adding that the interference of non-regional countries in the regional issues will further complicate the situation and will add to the crisis in the Middle East.
Iran and Russia can cooperate to counter the interference and expansionist policies of the United States, he said.
The Iranian defense minister reiterated his country's readiness for the enhancement of defense and military cooperation with Russia.
For his part, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu underscored the importance of Iran in promoting peace and security in the region, and expressed his country's preparedness to cooperate with Tehran to this end.
"We are facing common threats and challenges and our countries' cooperation will be important in this regard," he said.
He termed the defense and military ties between two countries as "important," saying that the cooperation and agreements will further enhance the interaction between Tehran and Moscow.
Russia's defense minister arrived in the Tehran on Monday. Both countries are also expected to ink memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation.
Dehqan has said that it is essential for Tehran and Moscow to bolster defense cooperation, and further expansion of cooperation will play major role in maintaining regional and global security.
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