TEHRAN – Russian Security Council's secretary Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that his country has nearly completed the required procedures to sign a new bilateral treaty with Iran soon, the TASS news agency reported.

"We look forward to the imminent conclusion of a new basic interstate treaty. We are completing the internal procedures necessary for the preparation of documents for signing by the presidents," Shoigu said.

Russia has said for some time that it intends to sign a major partnership treaty with the Islamic Republic, but Shoigu's statement was the strongest sign yet that such a deal is imminent.