Russia, Iran Sign Military Cooperation Deal

The ministers did not mention prospective arms deals or the controversy over a 2007 contract to deliver the Russian S-300 air-defense system to Iran, which Moscow has not supplied amid objections by the United States and Israel.

Russia and Iran have signed an agreement to expand military cooperation during Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s visit to Tehran.

Shoigu and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Dehqan, signed the document on January 20.

Russian news agencies quoted Shoigu as saying the agreement includes expanded cooperation against terrorism, exchanges of military personnel for training purposes, and an understanding enabling each country's navy to use the other's ports more frequently.

Dehqan said he and Shoigu agreed to the need to foster cooperation to prevent "interference of external forces in regional affairs."

The ministers did not mention prospective arms deals or the controversy over a contract to deliver the Russian S-300 air-defense system to Iran.

In 2007, Russia signed a contract to sell the missile systems to Tehran, but has not supplied them amid objections by the United States and Israel.

Based on reporting by AP and Interfax