Tasnim� Iranian Deputy Defense Minister Brigadier General Nasrollah Kalantari and his Russian counterpart, Alexander Fomin, exchanged views about a range of issues, including ways to boost defense cooperation between the two countries.

In their meeting held in Russia on Tuesday, they discussed �conditions and prospects of military and technical cooperation development as well as issues of security in the Middle East�, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

�The sides noted that it was a very timely meeting, and agreed that activation of contacts between the military departments had a special meaning,� the statement read, adding, �According to them, the negotiations will promote further Russian-Iranian cooperation in wide range of issues.�

�The meeting was held in a friendly atmosphere. The sides confirmed their interest in further development of multilateral cooperation,� the Russian defense ministry statement went on to say.

In a telephone conversation earlier this month, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin called for the expansion of the ties between Tehran and Moscow in all fields.

In the conversation, President Rouhani said enhancement of strategic relations with the neighbors, particularly with Russia, constitutes a principled policy of Iran.