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Iranian President visits Moscow

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The Iranian President met Russia’s Prime Minister yesterday at the beginning of a two-day visit to Moscow.

President Hassan Rouhani held talks with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Welcoming Rouhani to Moscow, Medvedev said he hoped the visit would open a new page in relations between the two countries that have strengthened as they have fought together to support the Assad regime in Syria. Rouhani is expected to meet President Putin later today to discuss trade, energy and the ongoing conflict in Syria.

Following yesterday’s meeting, Prime Minister Medvedev said: “Currently, our countries have very cordial and advanced relations and your visit will help make them even more close.”

Cooperation between Russia and Iran has intensified, with Russian fighter jets using Iran as a base to launch attacks against  rebels in Syria last summer, and continues to increase following the recent talks in Kazakhstan on March 15, on a future plan for Syria, where Iran was officially recognised along with Russia and Turkey as a “guarantor for execution of obligations in Syria”.

President Rouhani is keen to boost Iran’s economy ahead of Iran’s presidential election on May 19, but among the trade deals, Iran is seeking to procure more advanced weapons from Russia, including fighter jets and advanced T-90 tanks. One report suggests that Russia is assisting Iran to construct a military base at the port of Latakia on the Mediterranean coast, where Russia already has a heavy military presence.

Since Russia entered the Syrian conflict, Israel has been in close communication with the Russians to set up a mechanism of de-confliction. Last week, speaking during an official trip to China, Netanyahu said: “It’s simply incorrect to say the Russians are changing their policy toward us.”