MOSCOW -- Russia does not see anything threatening in its cooperation with Iran for a third side, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov said on Wednesday.

Losyukov, who is in charge of Asian affairs, added that cooperation with Iran is moving forward at a very good level.

A program to boost cooperation between Moscow and Tehran has been prepared, he said, referring to a program of trade, economic, industrial and scientific-technological cooperation for the years to 2012 IRNA reported.

Losyukov said the said program corresponds to Russia's wish to develop good neighborly relations with Tehran, adding that Russia is well determined to go ahead with its cooperation with Iran.

Russia is well determined to go ahead with its all-out cooperation with Iran, he said while pointing finger at the Tehran-Moscow nuclear cooperation.

Moscow is now cooperating with Iran on nuclear projects in Iran's Bushehr area.

Russian cooperation with Iran has long been a sore point with Washington, with the Bushehr power plant an especially sensitive issue.

Reportedly, a 10-year program for Tehran-Moscow cooperation proposed by Russian prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov indicates a desire of the Russian government to consolidate relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Press reports suggested that Moscow's decision to strengthen relations with Iran, particularly in areas the U.S. opposes, is meant to defy U.S. pressure.

A Washington-based daily recently outlined Russian plans to build 5 nuclear power plants for Iran over the next decade.

U.S. President George W. Bush, during a summit earlier with Russian President Putin in the Kremlin, raised what the American claim to be Iranian attempts to obtain or develop weapons of mass destruction.

Iran and Russia concluded previously a contract pledging to increase the annual level of their mutual trade to as high as $5 billion.

Currently, trade exchanges between the two countries stand at about $1 billion, which will definitely receive a boost once the Bushehr nuclear power plant is completed along with other defense projects of the two countries.

Meanwhile, Philippe Ricker, a representative of the U.S. Department of State, said Washington will continue intensive contacts with Moscow on issues of nonproliferation.