Meeting between Putin, Khamenei lasted over 1.5 hours, was constructive - Peskov
TEHRAN. Nov 23 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei have discussed issues relating to bilateral relations, including energy cooperation, the situation in Syria and some other issues; the conversation lasted longer than planned, Russian presidential press officer Dmitry Peskov said.
"The conversation with Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei lasted longer than planned, over 1.5 hours. The conversation was very constructive. The leaders exchanged opinions on the current state of bilateral relations, including in the sphere of trade and economic cooperation, pointing out the presence in the agenda of many specific projects in the sphere of energy and other spheres," Peskov told reporters.
He said the meeting participants agreed that it is unacceptable to force options of settlement on Syria from the outside.
"The discussion largely focused on crises in the common region, primarily it addressed the situation in Syria. The meeting participants had a very detailed exchange of opinions, it was emphasized that Moscow and Tehran agree on the unacceptability of dictating political settlement options from the outside and that there is no alternative to the implementation of this political method by the people of Syria," Peskov said.
The Iranian leader expressed hopes for the diversification of relations with Russia as a result of negotiations between Putin and the Iranian administration.
"Khamenei believes the current level of our cooperation clearly does not meet the potential of our two countries, and the supreme leader expressed hopes that the negotiations that will take place between Putin and [Iranian President Hassan] Rouhani today will produce results that will become a considerable impetus to the diversification of our trade and economic relations," Peskov said.
He said Khamenei gave high marks to the efforts made by Russia to resolve the problems associated with the Iranian nuclear program.
