Iran: Speaker off to Moscow with ‘important message’

Majlis (parliament) Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has set off on his first official foreign visit to Moscow, saying that he carries an important message to Russian officials with the goal of further cementing the two countries’ strategic relations.

According to reports, speaking to reporters before departing to Moscow on Sunday, he added that Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has always emphasized the importance of strategic ties with Russia.

Qalibaf added that the Leader's emphasis on relations with Russia is why he decided to make his first foreign visit to Russia at the invitation of Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Viktorovich Volodin.

He said he is carrying an important message to Russian officials, which focuses on strategic issues between the two countries.

Qalibaf said Tehran and Moscow enjoy “very good” relations in various fields, including economy, politics, defense, security, industry, technology and science.

“There are numerous commonalities between Iran and Russia with regard to regional and global issues. Such commonalities could help us develop the existing opportunities, both on regional and international levels, in order to come up with more suitable [political] structures. This would benefit the two countries’ relations as well as the people in the region, and would also help global peace-seeking moves,” he added.

Qalibaf further noted that he would hold talks with the Duma chairman and other senior officials on leading bilateral, regional and international issues.

An advisor to the top parliamentarian, Babak Negahdari, said on Saturday that the promotion of mutual relations to a strategic level is among the most important objectives of Qalibaf’s and added that he would also participate in meetings on economic and trade cooperation.

“In addition to strengthening economic cooperation within the framework of mutual ties, the expansion of trade ties within the framework of Eurasian [Economic] Union…and also discussions about North-South Corridor are among other important issues of Qalibaf’s visit to Russia,” Negahdari added.

SS