TEHRAN – Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said that relations between Tehran and Moscow have increased significantly in various areas, ISNA reported Friday.

“Iran and Russia have many commonalities for bilateral cooperation and their relations have been growing in various spheres during the recent years,” Medvedev said in a message to a cultural-social conference.

The two-day meeting opened in the Russian city of Ufa, Bashkortostan, on Thursday.

The prime minister also said that the conference can help expansion of ties between the two countries.

Ali Younesi, a special aide to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, attended the conference at the head of a delegation.

The Iranian and Russian officials discussed cooperation in areas of culture and tourism and also fight against terrorism and extremism.

Iranian Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanaei who addressed the conference said President Rouhani has plans to increase relations with Moscow more robustly in his second term of presidency.

He also expressed hope that relations between the two countries in the area of tourism would be expanded.

Ambassador Sanaei also said that the two countries have succeeded to expand relations in recent years.

NA/PA