TEHRAN, Oct. 26 (MNA) � In an interview to Sputnik on Tue., Iranian ambassador Mehdi Sanaei said that the issue of�the delivery of�Russia's S-400 air defense systems to�Iran was not under�discussion.


"Iran is interested in�continuing cooperation in�defense area with�Russia and even in�expanding and developing it,� Sanaei told Sputnik on Tuesday, adding that however, the issue of�the delivery of�Russia's S-400 air defense systems to�Iran was not under�discussion.

"In December, Tehran will host a commission on�consular cooperation between�the foreign ministries of�the two countries," Sanaei said, adding that talks will focus on consular ties, as�well as�visa-free travel for�the citizens of�the two nations.

Sanaei also announced the upcoming visit of�Valentina Matvienko, the speaker of�the upper house of�the Russian parliament, who is expected to�visit Iran on�November 13-14 for�talks with�her Iranian counterpart Ali Larijani.

According to him, economic cooperation is also another topic that will come up during a meeting of�the [Russian-Iranian] intergovernmental commission on�December 5-7 in�Tehran, attended by Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak; �it is a very important event, which I hope, will give a new impetus to�our trade and economic relations," Sanaei said.

Sanaei also discussed cooperation between�Iran and Russia on�Syria and the issue of�use of�the Hamadan air base by�the Russian Aerospace Forces: "Generally, Iran and Russia closely cooperate on�the issue of�Syria. Now there are no significant problems,� he said.

He further said that Iran is awaiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to�the country later in�the year, however the visit of�the minister was not on�the official agenda yet; �maybe it is caused by�the fact that the [foreign] ministers [of the two countries] often meet at�other venues," Sanaei said.

By Mehr News Agency