Russia’s 3rd highest-ranking official due in Tehran today

TEHRAN, Nov. 13 (MNA) – Russian Federation Council Chairperson Valentina Ivanovna Matviyenko heading a parliamentary delegation will arrive in Tehran on Sun. to hold talks with a number of Iranian senior officials. Iranian Ambassador to Moscow, Mehdi Sanaei, made the announcement on Sunday, while quoting the Russian Federation Council’s statement on Valentina Ivanovna Matviyenko’s visit to Tehran today. Matviyenko who last visited Iran 12 years ago while being the Governor of Saint Petersburg at the time, now serves as the Chairman of the Federation Council since 2011, and is considered to be the highest-ranking female politician in Russia, as well as the country’s third highest-ranking official after the President and Prime Minister. During her two-day visit, Matviyenko is scheduled to hold talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Topics of discussion include expansion of cooperation on peaceful nuclear activities, Syrian situation, and fighting terrorism. The US presidential election results is likely to be discussed during the meetings, as well. Matvyenko’s trip to Tehran comes in a series of visits between Iran and Russia following the implementation of last year’s nuclear agreement between Tehran and the 5+1 group of countries.