TEHRAN -- Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior foreign policy advisor to the Supreme Leader, said on Wednesday that close cooperation between Tehran and Moscow could help repel Western threats to the region.

“In light of the new developments, Iran and Russia should upgrade their policies and approaches in order to effectively respond to the existing multi-layered threats. To this end, they should also broaden strategic and long-term relations in all spheres,” Velayati told a conference entitled “Iran-Russia Cooperation in Contemporary Geopolitics” in Moscow.

During his speech, Velayati noted that the moves and policies of some Western states, specially the United States, are threatening the regional countries, including Iran and Russia, Fars reported.

Pointing to the important status of Russia in Iran’s foreign policy, he said the two sides could help each other in order to play a far more influential role in the contemporary world.

In relevant remarks earlier on Wednesday, Velayati had said Tehran and Moscow were making every effort to broaden bilateral relations in all spheres.

“The two countries' high-ranking officials are working round the clock to help develop and cement relations. Such visits and discussions could help them do more to this end,” Velayati said in a meeting with President of Russian Institute for Strategic Studies Leonid Reshetnikov as well as high-ranking members of the think-tank in Moscow.

Velayati visited Moscow on Monday to exchange views with Russian officials on the latest bilateral and regional developments.

Upon arrival in Moscow, he said when it comes to the Syria crisis and other regional issues, Tehran and Moscow share a common stance.

“The deep-seated ties between Iran and Russia are unique. They have always worked together to resolve major regional issues, particularly in nuclear and defense,” Velayati told reporters.

One instance of mutual cooperation came to the fore once Iran, Russia, Syria and Iraq formed a new coalition to fight all manners of terrorism and extremism in the region, he noted.

He reiterated that Tehran and Moscow share a similar position with regard to the Syria conflict and battling terrorism in the region.

------- Putin aide: Russia fully backs Iran’s membership in SCO

Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov pledged his country’s full support for Iran’s membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

In a Tuesday meeting in Moscow with Velayati, Ushakov said Russia backs development of bilateral and multilateral strategic relations with Iran and the country’s membership in the SCO, Tasnim reported.

He further pointed to a recent visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Iran, saying that the trip played an important role in boosting the ties between Tehran and Moscow.

Velayati, for his part, said the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and the Iranian government attach great importance to relations with Moscow, which are growing day by day.