Chairman of Russian’s State Duma Viacheslav Volodin received Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who delivered a letter from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to President Vladimir Putin.
The media office of the State Duma asserted the importance of the visit in terms of continued coordination between both states, adding that Volodin delivered the message to the Russian president.
Iranian ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali said the Speaker's first visit to a foreign country since his appointment confirms the importance Tehran attaches to ties with Moscow, adding that bilateral relations are constantly being developed in various fields.
Jalali indicated that Qalibaf's visit will certainly boost coordination with Tehran in various areas.
Before his meeting with Volodin, Qalibaf called for consolidating the relations between the two countries, noting that they share many common factors in bilateral, regional and international fields.
He explained that one of the most important goals of his visit is to reassure officials that ties between Tehran and Moscow will not be affected by global developments.
Prior to the visit, Iranian media reported that the Russian authorities wanted the speaker to first self-isolate for 15 days before meeting Putin, which Qalibaf rejected.
However, a Russian diplomat said that the visit was successfully organized by the two parties, noting that the protocol requires that the speaker be received by the Duma chairman.
Khamenei “has always underlined our strategic relations with Russia…. One of the outstanding aspects of this visit is that I’m carrying an important message about strategic issues,” Qalibaf said, without elaborating.
In Tehran, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said it was regrettable the way some dealt with such an important visit of by the speaker who was conveying a message from the supreme leader.
Khatibzadeh denied any prior agreement to meet Putin, saying the president has special protocols in place for foreign receptions given the coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile, the conservative Islami Jamhoori newspaper criticized Qalibaf for visiting Russia despite Putin's refusal to receive him, deeming the president’s behavior “an insult to Iran and the republic's regime.”
The newspaper argued in its editorial that Putin was upset with Iranian officials because of their view of the West, stressing that his refusal to receive Qalibaf, even though he was conveying a message from Khamenei, is definitely an offense to Iran and the regime.
Aftab Yazd newspaper stated that Putin’s behavior must not be forgotten, defending Qalibaf as the speaker of parliament, which represents the Iranian people.
