The agreement was reached during a meeting between Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on the sidelines of the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek on Wednesday.

The two sides stressed the need for removing obstacles and accelerating the executing of oil and gas contracts and also speeding up the commissioning of the second phase of Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran.

Mokhber expressed his satisfaction with the developing relations between Iran and Russia and added the two countries have taken major steps toward increasing trade and investment and need to expand their ties.

The top official also expressed his gratitude to Russia for supporting Iran’s full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, membership in the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) group, and its free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

The Russian prime minister, for his part, said Iran’s membership in SCO and BRICS will give the two organizations further credit in the international arena.

Mishustin attached great significance to Tehran-Moscow relations, saying their ties are based on friendship and mutual interests.

Pointing to the two countries’ record 350-billion-ruble trade volume in 2022, the premier voiced Russia’s willingness to boost economic and commercial cooperation with Iran, expressing hope that bilateral cooperation and plans will be thoroughly discussed in the December meeting of Iran-Russia Joint Economic Cooperation in Tehran.