国际英语新闻:Lifting sanctions to boost Moscow-Tehran cooperation: Russian FM

MOSCOW, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The expected lifting of the sanctions on Iran will boost cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.

The cooperation in the military-technical sphere is of particular importance due to threats and challenges in the Caspian region, Lavrov said after meeting here with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif.

"It is an important task to prevent the threats and risks in the region," Lavrov said.

Iran and the six countries it has been negotiating with over its nuclear program, namely the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany, wrapped up their protracted talks in July with a historic 100-page accord.

Zarif said the lifting of the sanctions against Iran has opened wide prospects for cooperation between Tehran and Moscow, including in the nuclear sector.

"We had a very good dialogue on this issue," Zarif said without giving details.

Meanwhile, the two diplomats emphasized the need to strengthen bilateral economic ties, and agreed to hold a meeting in fall of the joint intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation.

Earlier in the day, Lavrov's deputy, Igor Morgulov, said the two ministers could discuss the possibility of the supply of Russian S-300 air-defense systems to Iran, but neither of them mentioned the issue when meeting the press.