Iran's First Vice President described relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia as strategic and said Tehran's desire to develop relations with Moscow and make a leap in their ties is serious, Mehr reported.

Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber met and held talks with Russian presidential aide Igor Levitin in Tehran on Thursday.

The meeting was also attended by Russian Ambassador to Iran Levan Jagarian and several other Iranian officials.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia have ample opportunities to develop bilateral relations and can enhance their relations in various fields of energy, transit, transportation, industry and food security," Mokhber said.

Stressing the need for greater cooperation between Tehran and Moscow to implement the Resht-Astara rail project, the Iranian first vice president added that the two countries should pursue this project as a major priority because it can help develop cooperation in transportation and transit.

Mentioning the broad political cooperation between Iran and Russia, Mokhber added that the two countries have good coordination in political issues and called for increasing the level of commercial relations between the two countries by implementing the agreements reached.

He also stressed the need to use the national currency of the two countries in trade exchanges and praised Russia's stance on the Vienna talks as well as Iran's membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Igor Levitin assessed his talks with Iranian officials as positive and constructive.

He noted that the visit included favorable meetings with economic activists at the Iranian Chamber of Commerce to solve problems facing trade and economic cooperation.

Stressing that Russia is ready to expand cooperation with Iran in transportation and transit, Levitin said that Iran could be an alternative and suitable route for transportation and act as a transit hub for Russia.

He also considers the implementation of the Resht-Astara railway project effective and important in the development of transit cooperation between the two countries.