Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said the Islamic Republic and Russia are cooperating on issues related to the Middle East, Iran's Press TV reported. 

"Considering the developments that have taken place on the international scene, we [Iran] are cooperating with Russia in the region," Larijani said in a joint press conference with Russia's Federation Council Chairperson Valentina Ivanovna Matvienko in Tehran.

He added that Iran and Russia have taken steps over recent years to broaden relations and said Matvienko’s current visit to Tehran would play a key role in developing trade, political, parliamentary and security cooperation between the two sides.

"We have had close and positive relations in economic, political and security fields," Larijani said.

He noted that he had held "very useful and constructive" talks with the top Russian parliamentarian, adding that the two sides offered good proposals on regional and international issues.

The Iranian parliament speaker said the two sides also discussed ways to increase cooperation in railway transportation and energy.

Russia's Federation Council chairperson, for her part, said Tehran and Moscow have good cooperation in the fight against international terrorism and expressed hope the two sides would further work together in this regard.

Matvienko added that Iran and Russia have similar or close stances on many regional and international issues. 

Source: MENA