Iran-Russia Military Cooperation to Be ExpandedRussian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev has said that Tehran and Moscow will expand their military and security cooperation despite opposition from the United States, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported Wednesday, December 27."Iranian-Russian military cooperation will not be to the prejudice of any third country," Sergeyev, who arrived here late Tuesday for a three-day visit, was quoted by the agency as saying. Leading a high-ranking military delegation for the first such visit to Iran since the country's 1979 Islamic revolution, Sergeyev said his trip aims to bolster the arms trade between Moscow and Tehran, despite U.S. threats of economic sanctions. He expressed hope that his visit would initiate a new chapter in Iran-Russia relations and serve improvement of cooperation for security and stability in the region. "Moscow calls for expansion of relations with Tehran in all fields, notably regional security, and there is no legal and international obstacle before this intention," Sergeyev said upon his arrival. Sergeyev is to hold talks with President Mohammad Khatami, Defense Minister Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani and other senior military and political officials on military cooperation, the Afghan crisis, the legal status of the Caspian Sea, the Middle East crisis and other issues of common concern. He is also to visit the bases of Iran's aerospace industry, electronic industry and some military installations. According to the IRNA report, Sergeyev declined to comment on Washington's opposition to Russia's dealings with Iran, only saying that "Russia will not contravene international agreements." Moscow announced in November that it would stop the observance of a five-year-old accord with Washington which banned Russia from selling arms to Iran. The decision prompted a US threat of economic sanctions. But Moscow has sought to allay Washington's fears at the resumption of arms deals between Russia and Iran, saying that under no circumstances would Russia help Iran manufacture weapons of mass destruction. |
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