Sputnik - On November 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin is paying an official visit to Iran to discuss the situation in the Middle East and bilateral ties between the two countries. With this in mind, Sputnik recalls two other trips of the Russian leader to the Islamic Republic during his presidency.
Visit 1.
When and where:October 16, 2007. Tehran.
Purpose ofthe visit:totake part inthe Second summit ofthe Caspian Sea countries
Whom did the Russian leader meet with?Vladimir Putin met withthe Supreme Leader ofIran, Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei, and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
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SPUTNIK/ POOL October 16, 2007. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad meet at Saadabad Palace in Tehran. (File)[/caption]What did the parties agree upon?The Russian and Iranian leaders confirmed their intention todevelop cooperation invarious fields, including nuclear energy. They also pointed outthat it was necessary toresolve the situation aroundthe Iranian nuclear program throughnegotiations and dialogue.
Particular attention was paid tobilateral cooperation inthe sphere ofextraction and transportation ofenergy resources. Putin and Ahmadinejad also expressed satisfaction withthe signing ofa contract forthe delivery offive Russian Tu-204-100 aircraft toIran.
In addition, the parties decided toresume the work ofConsulate General ofRussia inRasht and open a Consulate General ofIran inKazan. The two heads ofstate made a corresponding statement atthe end ofthe talks inTehran.
Why was the visit remarkable?Vladimir Putin's visit was the first visit ofa Russian president toIran inthe history ofrelations betweenthe two countries. Prior toPutin, no Soviet or Russian leader had even been toIran sincethe Tehran Conference in1943.
Visit 2.
When and where:November 23, 2015. Tehran
Purpose ofthe visit:totake part inthe Gas Exporting Countries Forum
Whom did the Russian leader meet with?Vladimir Putin met the Supreme Leader ofIran, Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei, and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani
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SPUTNIK/ SERGEY GUNEEV/POOL November 23, 2015. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani meet prior to the summit of the heads of state and government of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Tehran. (File)[/caption]What did the parties agree upon?Russia pledged its readiness togive Iran a $ 5 billion loan tointensify industrial cooperation. Moscow and Tehran selected 35 priority projects invarious economic fields and signed a number ofagreements, including a contract betweenthe ISC Russian Railways and the Iranian railway company onthe construction ofthe Garmsar Ince Burun electrification project. The parties also signed an agreement onthe construction ofa thermal power plant and a desalination plant nearBandar Abbas.
In addition, Putin said that the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEC) would consider the possibility ofcreating a free trade zone withIran. He also noted that Moscow and Tehran will expand cooperation inthe area oftrade.
With regard tothe Syrian crisis, Putin and Supreme Leader ofIran Ali Khamenei agreed that the Syrian people should themselves todecide onthe fate ofSyrian leader Bashar Assad, according toKremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Why was the visit remarkable?The main event ofthe visit the meeting betweenVladimir Putin withthe Iranian religious leader Ali Khamenei took place behindclosed doors. It was the second time totwo ofthem spoke tete-a-tete.
The Putin-Khamenei meeting led toa standoff betweenRussian and Iranian journalists. It almost came toblows betweenphotographers "from the two camps" asall ofthem were angling forthe first shot.
What toExpect Next:
The third meeting betweenRussian and Iranian leaders, that is currently taking place inTehran, is expected tocontribute tocloser cooperation betweenthe two countriesinthe resolution ofthe Syrian crisis. This includes not only military aspects, butalso efforts torestore the war-torn country, Ahmad Vahshiteh, a specialist onRussian-Iranian relations, talked Sputnik earlier.
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SPUTNIK/ ALEXEI DRUZHININ November 1, 2017. President Vladimir Putin and President of Iran Hassan Rouhani, right, during a meeting in Tehran[/caption]For his part, Dr. Hamid Reza Azizi, a senior researcher atthe Center forthe Study ofIranand Eurasia (IRAS) expressed hope that the parties will also discuss cooperation inthe Caspian Sea aswell asaspects concerning the North-South transport corridor. He also stressed that it's important toenhance the interaction ofIran, Russia and Azerbaijan inthis context.
