Iran and Russia have signed a strategic cooperation agreement in line with the policy of increasing bilateral cooperation, a top Iranian security official announced on Friday, November 11.

According to Merh News Agency, Ali Baqeri, the deputy secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said that the agreement was signed during his meeting with Yevgeny Lukyanov, the deputy secretary of Russia’s Security Council, in Moscow on Friday.

“This is a document of cooperation between the two countries’ security councils, which had previously been put forward and was finalized today,” Baqeri told reporters after the meeting with his Russian counterpart.

“The document covers cooperation between Iranian and Russian security councils in security, economic, political, and intelligence fields. Through signing this agreement, the framework of cooperation between the two neighboring countries’ security councils was established in terms of form and content,” he explained.

During his meetings with Russian officials during his visit to Moscow, he said that bilateral ties, the latest report of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran’s nuclear program, and Russia’s step-by-step proposal were thoroughly discussed.

Meanwhile, Fars News Agency reported that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov arrived in Tehran on Friday night after the two countries signed the agreement.

During the two-day visit, the senior Russian diplomat is due to meet with high-ranking Iranian officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, to discuss bilateral ties and exchange views over regional issues.

Bogdanov is also due to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi during his stay in Tehran.