[RFE/RL] Moscow and Tehran plan to expand military and economic cooperation after international sanctions against Iran are lifted under a pending nuclear deal.Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said in Moscow that both sides hope the nuclear agreement will enter into force "in the nearest weeks."
Lavrov said, "There are all the opportunities today to bring Russian-Iranian relations to a new, more advanced level in the spirit of the agreements reached by the two presidents and taking into account those decisions that were made to resolve the situation around the Iranian nuclear program."
Russian media sources report that among items discussed was the possible delivery of S-300 surface-to-air missiles from Russia to Iran.
Russia is eager to get a head start in what is expected to be an international race for lucrative contracts with Iran once sanctions are lifted. Of particular interest is Iran's nuclear power sector.
Lavrov and Zarif said they also discussed a joint initiative for a diplomatic resolution to the Syrian civil war. They reaffirmed that they both reject calls for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down from power.