![First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Alexander Zhukov and Deputy Chairman of the Assembly of Experts of the Islamic Republic of Iran Alireza Arafi](/media/photos/1254x705/Hzy2UdMEcArvDbP6C9WIKaUr2JgQ1HaJ.jpg)
On Monday, July 22, the First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Alexander Zhukov
Alexander Dmitrievich
held a meeting with
the Deputy Chairman of the Assembly of Experts of the Islamic Republic of Iran Alireza
Arafi at the State Duma.
“We greatly value our good neighborly and friendly relations with Iran. This is very important in the current difficult geopolitical situation,” said Alexander Zhukov.
According to him, there has begun “a new stage in the history of relations between our countries, which is characterized by the strengthening of mutual trust and political interaction.” Alexander Zhukov noted the contribution of Vladimir Putin and Ebrahim Raisi, who recently tragically passed away, to the development of bilateral relations. The First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma expressed confidence that cooperation between Russia and Iran would continue to develop under the leadership of the new President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian.
“We hope that cooperation between Russia and Iran within the parliamentary dimension will remain stable and active,” emphasized the First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma. Alexander Zhukov added that the next meeting of the inter-parliamentary commission on cooperation between Russia and Iran was planned to be held in Moscow before the end of the year.
Alireza Arafi agreed with Alexander Zhukov and noted “the increasingly strategic role of our relations”. According to him, their new architecture was shaped by decisions made at the level of the leaders of Russia and Iran. “All government structures are committed to implementing all agreements reached with Russia,” said the Deputy Chairman of the Assembly of Experts of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Alexander Zhukov and Alireza Arafi also discussed joint efforts to address challenges the countries face, primarily from the collective West. “We fully support the new policy between our countries. This is the formation of a just world, a common struggle against the unipolar approach of the collective West. We are deeply convinced that there should be several centers of power in the world, and Russia should be one of these centers,” emphasized Alireza Arafi.