Rouhani to Visit Moscow on Tuesday

Bahrain Qasemi, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, expressed hope on Sunday, April 6, that President Hassan Rouhani's first visit to Russia would become a "turning point" in the cooperation between the two countries. Mehdi Sanaei, Iran's ambassador to Moscow, also announced that 15 cooperation documents and memorandums of understanding would be signed during this visit. Hassan Rouhani will travel to Moscow on Tuesday at the head of a high-ranking political and economic delegation, marking his first trip to Moscow during his presidency. Rouhani and Vladimir Putin have met and negotiated eight times so far. In an interview with ILNA news agency, Bahrain Qasemi stated that a high-ranking economic delegation would accompany the Iranian president on his trip to Moscow on Tuesday, April 7. According to Qasemi, Iran hopes this visit will become a "turning point" in the cooperation between the two countries in various fields, especially bilateral issues and economic and industrial cooperation. Meanwhile, Mehdi Sanaei reported on Sunday in an interview with the state news agency IRNA that 15 cooperation documents would be signed between the two countries in the areas of consular, legal, judicial, industrial, communications, political, energy, railways, and tourism. Cooperation in building new power plants, selling uranium, and purchasing heavy water has been part of Russia's collaboration with Iran's nuclear program. Additionally, Russian companies, including Lukoil, have signed seven memorandums for the development of Iran's oil fields. Earlier, Alexander Novak, the Russian Energy Minister, announced on February 23, 2017, that the value of exploration and development projects in Iran by Russian companies could reach $20 billion. According to IRNA, the Iranian ambassador in Moscow also stated that during Hassan Rouhani's visit to Russia, an agreement on "visa waiver for tourist groups" would be signed, and the approval process for this agreement must take place within both countries to begin negotiations for a complete visa waiver. Mehdi Sanaei also noted that no discussions have yet taken place between the two countries regarding a complete visa waiver. He expressed hope that the cooperation model between Iran and Russia would attract the attention of countries such as India and China, as well as some countries outside the region that have been involved in regional issues over the past 15 years, "to reconsider their perspectives and focus on a regional solution to the issues of the Middle East and Eurasia." Meanwhile, according to ILNA, Bahrain Qasemi stated that Iran and Moscow have shared understandings and viewpoints in dealing with "terrorist groups and combating extremism," and the presidents of the two countries will discuss regional issues, particularly the Syrian crisis. Iran and Russia are key allies of Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, and the two presidents have previously had numerous phone conversations regarding the Syrian crisis. Tehran and Moscow's support for Assad's government has drawn criticism from several regional and Western countries.