Russian Defense Minister For Cooperation With Iran In Countering International Terrorism

Russian Defense Minister Igor Ivanov has spoken in favor of development of cooperation with Iran in countering international terrorism and drug trafficking, RIA Novosti correspondent reports. Opening the negotiations with Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shakhmani in Moscow Tuesday, Ivanov stressed that "Afghanistan was the shelter of many terrorist groups and a huge market of drugs". There is a sphere for joint activity of the two countries, the minister said. According to him, Russia and Iran have been fighting drug trafficking for a long time giving "terrorism a financial base". The Russian minister pointed at the Russian-Iranian fruitful bilateral relations in different spheres, in the sphere of defense, in particular. Sergei Ivanov said after the official negotiations he was scheduled to meet the Iranian delegation in informal conditions. Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shakhmani said, in his turn, "The cooperation has existed earlier but today it is more actual, the situation in the region dictates the necessity of expanding this cooperation in all spheres".