TEHRAN - "Russia is not violating any non-proliferation treaty in its cooperation with Iran," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said in Paris on Friday.

Ivanov told reporters that Russia maintains normal commercial contacts and agreements with Iran, stressing that Moscow will observe all international norms and rules in its interactions with Tehran.

"Unfounded statements that Moscow's cooperation with Tehran is necessarily Russia's violation of some obligations is a myth," he said.

Ivanov further stressed that Russia's building a nuclear power plant in Bushehr in Iran is under full control of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"For this reason, when accusations of violating the non-proliferation regime in this project are leveled against Russia, this does not cause anything but our awe," he said.

Meanwhile, Ivanov stressed on further expansion of Tehran-Moscow military cooperation.

Iran and Russia signed an accord for military cooperation in October 2001. This accord was signed during the Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani's visit to Russia.

Iran and Russia play key roles in preserving stability and security in the region and both enjoy noteworthy geopolitical conditions. For this reason, Tehran-Moscow collaboration in defense and security will add to stability and security in the region. Iran and Russia cooperate in various fields in Central Asia and Caucus based on mutual interests as well.

Meantime, Iran and Russia have always stressed on the necessity to abide by international agreements concerning the non-proliferation of unconventional weapons.

In this respect the two countries created a mutual committee in 1996 to cooperate in the framework of disarmament pacts and arms control regimes.

In general Iran-Russia cooperation and friendship is based on a memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries. The MOU was signed between President Mohammad Khatami and his Russian counterpart during his visit in March 2001 to Russia. According to the accord Iran and Russia would cooperate only within the framework of prevalent international regulations. By the same token Tehran-Moscow joint military activity will follow the related framework.

However, hues and cries by White House officials about Iran-Russia military cooperation is merely meant to exert pressure on Iran on the one hand, and divert public opinion from the unorthodox military teamwork between the U.S. and the Zionist regime on the other hand.