Mr Putin’s message of congratulations reads, in particular:
“I am sure that with your election, which reflects the will expressed by the Iranian voters, the development of the long-term, multi-faceted partnership and cooperation between our countries will be assured of continuation.
Our relations have been developing dynamically recently. Bilateral trade has broken the $2 billion-mark for the first time. The nuclear power plant at Bushehr is near completion and we are ready to continue our cooperation with Iran in the atomic energy sector, keeping in consideration our international commitments in the area of non-proliferation. We are also ready to help find mutually acceptable political solutions to existing issues in this area.
We also have good prospects for developing our bilateral relations in the areas of oil and gas, traditional energy, transport, telecommunications and civil aviation.
I hope that your election will give a new boost to resolving the problems regarding settling the legal status of the Caspian Sea, and also to environmental cooperation, development of marine natural resources, settling other marine issues and activating our cooperation in the fight against terrorism, drugs trafficking and organised crime.
Russia is interested in further cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran in strengthening peace, stability and security in the region and finding solutions to the crisis situations that exist here.
I am sure that a policy of comprehensive expansion and deepening of our good-neighbourly relations on the basis of equality, mutual respect and benefit serves the true interests of our peoples and will help ensure international peace and stability.”