Iranian Embassy Says Russian Defense Minister To Visit Tehran

Iranian officials say Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu is expected to visit Tehran for two days next week.

The press service of the Iranian Embassy in Moscow told Interfax on January 15 that during his January 19-20 visit to Iran, Shoigu was expected "to hold full-scale negotiations with his counterpart Hossein Dehqan."

The embassy spokesperson did not elaborate on details of Shoigu's agenda or the negotiations.

Ruslan Pukhov, the head of the Moscow-based Strategies and Technologies Analysis Center, said Shoigu's visit to Tehran was aimed at resolving disputes related to the arms trade between Russia and Iran.

Pukhov said Shoigu and Dehqan also could discuss exports of Russian radar equipment and telecommunications projects.