Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili and Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev have called for the expansion of bilateral ties during a meeting in Tehran on Monday, August 15 evening, when they discussed ways to improve Tehran-Moscow ties.

According to Press TV, the two officials also focused on regional and international developments as well as Moscow's “step-by-step” proposal on Iran's nuclear program.

The second round of Iran-Russia talks is scheduled for August 16 morning.

On July 13, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov proposed a new "step-by-step" approach toward Iran's nuclear program that would enable the Islamic Republic to take steps to address questions raised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

According to the proposed plan, Iran can revive negotiations to alleviate individual concerns of the IAEA about its nuclear activities and be rewarded along the way by the partial removal of sanctions.