Top Russian senator congratulates Iranian counterpart on re-election
Valentina Matvienko, chairwoman of Russia's Federation Council, has congratulated Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on his re-election as speaker of the Iran's parliament. In her message, she emphasized the importance of deepening bilateral cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.
Ghalibaf was re-elected on Tuesday, securing 219 out of 272 votes. He has held the position since 2020 and previously served as the mayor of Tehran and as a commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
In her congratulatory letter on Wednesday, Matvienko said that Russian officials 'highly value' Ghalibaf's warm attitude toward Russia 'and are ready to promote the deepening of mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of our countries, the development of constructive inter-parliamentary dialogue aimed at strengthening mutual respect, trust, and consideration of each other's interests.'
'We look forward to continuing fruitful work both on the international stage in order to effectively seek solutions to key regional and global issues,' Matvienko added.
Russia and Iran have significantly strengthened their bilateral relations. In January, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian signed a 20-year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty in Moscow. The landmark deal formalizes a commitment to building stronger relations across multiple areas, from national security, to peaceful nuclear energy to joint resistance against unilateral sanctions.
In 2024, Iran officially became a member of BRICS. The group was initially founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates also became members last year. Current members account for about 46% of the world's population and over 36% of global GDP, according to estimates by various international institutions. Over 30 more nations have applied to join the group.
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