Rouhani Supports Idea of Iran-Russia Visa Free Regime - Russian Official

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has supported an idea of a gradual implementation of a visa-free regime with Russia, the speaker of the upper house of the Russian parliament, Valentina Matvienko, said Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to Matvienko, consular services of the two countries continue consultations over this issue.

"The president said: let's move further toward liberalization of visa relations. We have made the first step and the number of tourists from both sides has increased. We are ready to gradually move toward liberalization of visa relations with the aim to finally introduce a visa free regime between Russia and Iran," Matvienko told reporters after a meeting with Rouhani in Iran.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Rouhani, signed a deal that eased bilateral visa rules during Putin’s latest visit to Tehran in 2015.

"It is hoped that the liberalization of visa regime will affect tourists, organized groups of young people, students, cultural exchanges, and business people's trips," Matvienko added.