TEHRAN -- President Masoud Pezeshkian has reiterated Iran’s resolve to fast-track bilateral agreements with Russia and maintain constructive consultations with the country on regional affairs.
Pezeshkian met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov here, where he stressed the need to accelerate the implementation of agreements, especially the comprehensive strategic agreement between the two countries.
“Iran and Russia have remarkable capacities to enhance their cooperation, and we are determined to strengthen interactions between Tehran and Moscow,” he said. 
Pezeshkian further emphasized the significance of a continuous, constructive engagement between the two nations.
“Iran and Russia have closely aligned perspectives on regional issues and are seeking to strengthen their regional and international cooperation, both through bilateral interactions and via organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Eurasian Union, and BRICS,” the president said.
The Russian minister said every effort will be made to sustain and accelerate the growing cooperation and implement bilateral agreements, particularly the comprehensive strategic agreement.
Lavrov said the completion of Iran’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union will provide a new and effective channel to strengthen bilateral relations — especially in economic and trade areas.
“Iran and Russia have many mutual interests in maintaining effective regional cooperation,” he said. 
Iran and Russia, both subject to Western sanctions, have deepened cooperation in recent years. 
In January, Pezeshkian visited Moscow and signed a strategic partnership agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to bolster economic and military collaboration between the two nations.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reiterated that unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States against Iran are illegal, since they bypass the United Nations Security Council.
Zakharova accompanied Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the visit to Tehran where she said Moscow opposes such sanctions imposed on Iran, Russia, or any other country.
“Moscow’s stance on unilateral sanctions against Iran, Russia, and other countries is the same; in fact, we share the same view regarding such sanctions,” she said. 
“We have the same reaction to all sanctions that bypass the UN Security Council. They are illegitimate, they are illegal.”
Zakharova earlier said the UK, France, and Germany lack the authority to reinstate sanctions on Iran since they have not fulfilled the obligations of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorse the Iran nuclear deal.
“Given the failure of European countries to fulfill the Security Council’s requirements under Resolution 2231, they, like the American side, have no right to pursue the reinstatement of the lifted sanctions,” she said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow believes “if there is political will from all parties involved, Iran’s nuclear issue can and should be resolved diplomatically.”