Iran, Russia Sign MOU For Cooperation Against Protests

Iran's police chief visiting Moscow signed a long-term memorandum of understanding Wednesday with the director of the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardiya).

As part of his official visit Ahmadreza Radan, a general notorious for repressing protests, met with General Viktor Zolotov.

The TASS news agency reported that the two sides discussed cooperation and exchange of experiences in law enforcement and "fighting terrorism and extremism."

"The document provides for an exchange of experience in law enforcement, protection of crucial government facilities, combating terrorism and extremism, and providing support for measures to counter crime," the press service added.

Before the meeting, the Iran in delegation visited the central museum of Rosgvardiya to view the latest models of weapons and special equipment. In addition, dog trainers and members of the rapid reaction unit demonstrated their skills at neutralizing armed criminals.

Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the Russian Security Council, also spoke earlier on Wednesday with Iran's police chief.

Earlier, Alexei Zhuravlev, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defense, suggested that Radan would discuss with Patrushev the fight against terrorist organizations in Eurasia and alleged plots by Western intelligence agencies to destabilize" the situation in Russia and Iran.

“It is possible to exchange experience in countering the attempts of Western intelligence services to destabilize the situation and organize riots...We are cooperating productively both in Syria, where Tehran initially took the side of Damascus, and in the Caspian region, where together we determine the vectors of navigation and fishing traffic in this inland reservoir,” Zhuravlev noted on Tuesday.

According to him, Iran also has the experience of successfully resisting Western sanctions that it can share it with the Russian Federation.

Meanwhile local media in Iran reported that Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, the chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, had a phone conversation with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, during which he invited him to visit Tehran.

Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei appointed Ahmadreza Radan as Iran's police chief in January after four months of popular anti-regime protests.

Most of Radan's ill reputation dates back to his role as police chief during the post-election unrest in 2009 and the performance of his men at the Kahrizak detention center where several young protesters including children of some state officials were killed as a result of police brutality.

Radan was sanctioned for his human rights violations by the United States as early as 2010 and has been blacklisted by the European Union.