TEHRAN In the last two decades, the United States has tried its best to isolate the Islamic Republic on the international scene but failed, observers here believe.
One can easily observe that Iranian ties with countries in the East and West are improving rapidly in economic and political areas.
Russia is one country on which the United States put pressure to distance itself from Iran. But the result has been the opposite.
The Islamic Republic believes in bilateral relations based on mutual interest and respect. Iran also believes that reciprocal ties should be based on noninterference in each country's internal affairs.
From the beginning of the creation of the Russian Federation in 1991, Moscow and Tehran have been enjoying healthy bilateral ties, disregarding U.S. pressure on Russia.
Both countries are exchanging high-level delegations for better ties. Currently, the Head of Russia's powerful Advisory Security Council, Sergei Ivanov, arrived here on Monday to begin a three-day visit.
Thus far, Ivanov has met with several Iranian officials including President Mohammad Khatami, to whom he delivered an invitation from President Putin to visit Russia.
Earlier, Russia flatly rejected U.S. allegations that it is providing technology to help Iran develop ballistic and nuclear missiles.
Last month it was said that Russia would cooperate with Tehran on a project to liquefy hydrogen as part of a bilateral program to develop new types of energy.
President Mohammad Khatami here on Wednesday termed the relations between Tehran and Moscow as being age old'' and said the Islamic Republic of Iran is keen to unconditionally expand its relations with Russia in all fields.
At a meeting with the Secretary of Russia's National Security Council Sergei Ivanov, Khatami pointed to the determination of the ranking officials of the two countries to expand bilateral relations and said exchange of views between Iranian and Russian officials in Tehran and Moscow demonstrated the determination of the two countries to further deepen bilateral ties.
Referring to the outstanding position of Iran and Russia in the region and the world and the need for more cooperation between the two countries at regional and international levels, Khatami said Iran and Russia can play an important role for the stability and progress of the region.
Stressing that regional security should be provided by the regional countries, the president said forces who feel no sympathy with the region want to find a foothold in the region.
Khatami said that cooperation between the two countries in the field of nuclear energy was for peaceful purposes, adding that the Islamic Republic of Iran has the right to use this technology while respecting international norms.
President Khatami said the two countries shared identical position toward many international issues including Palestine, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
Expressing regret over the barbaric attacks of the Zionist regime against the oppressed people of Palestine, Khatami said establishing a durable peace and security in the region without paying due attention to the rights of the real owners of Palestine is impossible.
On Afghanistan, Khatami said there is no military solution to the problem of this country and added that the oppressed people of Afghanistan are under heavy pressure and this problem is threatening the security of the whole region.
Referring to the crises in Caucasus and Karabakh, Khatami said, "We believe that the countries in Central Asia and Caucasus can settle their problems and create a secure and prosperous region by getting closer to each other and making more extensive communication and avoiding use of force." On the legal regime of the Caspian Sea, the president said the positions of Iran and Russia on the issue is close and added the sea is important environmentally, geographically and economically for the five littoral states.
He said these states should draw up a fair legal regime for the Caspian Sea which could guarantee a stable future for the region.
Khatami called terrorism a plague in the region and said the Islamic Republic of Iran condemns it in all its forms.
The president thanked for the written message of the Russian President Vladimir Putin and pointed to his recent meeting with him in New York and said Iran is ready to further expand its relations with Russia in various fields of politics, economics, technology, defense and security.
The Russian official pointed to vast ground for cooperation between Tehran and Moscow and stressed the will of Russian officials to further expand relations between Iran and Russia.
Ivanov condemned terrorism and said unfortunately Iran is a victim of terrorism and its security is jeopardized by some neighboring countries.
The Russian envoy also met with Iranian Foreign Minister, Kamal Kharrazi, where the both sides reviewed bilateral relations as well as international development.
He welcomed the idea of dialogue among civilizations brought up by President Khatami at the United Nation and said the idea has many common points with the world peace convention brought up at the UN Security Council.