IRAN AND RUSSIA SIGN NEW MILITARY DEALS
MOSCOW 14 th (IPS) Russia and Iran signed Friday new military agreements and reaffirmed mutual commitments to expand their co-operation "in all fields", according to informed sources in Moscow.
The agreement that includes the selling of MI-17 combat helicopters to Iran was concluded in the Russian capital at the end of a four days visit to Moscow by hojatoleslam Dr Hasan Rohani, the Secretary of Iran's Supreme Council for National Security (SCNS) and deputy Majles (parliament) Speaker.
Production of the modern helicopters has already started and four of them are to be delivered this year, sources added.
Moscow is Tehran's main arms purveyor and has sold more than US$ 6 billions of all kinds of armaments, from Mig 29 fighters to missiles to submarines to radar systems and T-72 tanks.
Russia would also assist Iran in assembling newly modernised versions of Tupolev 324 passenger planes.
Russia is also assisting the Islamic Republic in building a 1000 Megawatt nuclear powered electricity plant in Bushehr, on the Persian Gulf.
Both Washington and Tel-Aviv strongly protest to Russia's export of nuclear and missile technologies to Iran.
Meeting with Russian Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev, Mr. Rohani called on the Russian side to strengthen and develop further co-operation in military, economic, technical and nuclear fields and stressed that Iran and Russia would not allow other countries to intervene in their relations.
Sergeyev and Rohani discussed both international and regional problems, including Tajikestan, Afghanistan and Chechnya, as well as Iran-Russia co-operation in economic, scientific and military domains.
The Russian Defence Minister reaffirmed that Russia would fulfil it's commitments toward the Islamic Republic.
Sergeyev also assured that Moscow would go ahead with its technical, military and defence co-operation with Tehran "more firmly than ever before".
Noting the similarity of their views on most international and region issues, the two side concluded that their joint efforts was necessary to kept peace and security in Central Asia, particularly in Tajikistan, a country where both Iran and Russia are engaged in keeping peace and order.
Iran and Russia also co-operate closely on the Afghan crisis, with both of them providing vital arms and assistance to the Northern Alliance that fights the ruling Taleban.
While Sergeyev expressed concern to see the Caspian Sea to be turned into a
"battle field". Mr. Rohani described the region as a source of friendship and peace. However, he cautioned that the presence of NATO in this area could provoke instability in the region.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov had called for a New World order during the present century, pointing out that cooperation between Iran, Russia, India and China was "very significant to confront the hegemonic policy of the United States".
He descrined Tehran-Moscow relations as "strategic" with long-term "specifications"
"The provocation of the US. and NATO in Caucasus and in Central Asia are to undermine the role of Iran and Russia in the region", Mr. Ivanov and his Iranian guest noted.
Mr. Rohani observed that in the beginning of the third millennium, Iran and Russia "should make decision on their strategic and longstanding relations", IRNA quoted the Iranian vice-Speaker
"In the new century the two countries should have explicit and transparent relations on the basis of the international conventions which serve to consolidate the friendly ties", Mr. Rohani added.
Touching on the touchy issue of Iran-Russia nuclear and missile collaboration, the Iranian official reiterated that nuclear co-operation between the two countries was aimed at the peaceful application of the nuclear energy in accordance with the international conventions in this respect. ENDS IRAN RUSSIA 14100