Iranian National Security Council Secretary, Ali Shamkhani, met with Russian Presidential aide, Igor Levitin, in Tehran on Sunday to discuss the implementation of bilateral agreements in the banking and economic sectors. The North-South transport corridor was also discussed, specifically the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway section.

According to the "IRNA" news agency, Shamkhani emphasized the importance of the speedy implementation of the strategic North-South project. Levitin, on the other hand, noted that Moscow is ready to invest in various sectors of the Iranian economy, including the Rasht-Astara road section, as well as in the steel, oil, and petrochemical industries.

The meeting comes at a time of heightened tension between Iran and the United States over the former's nuclear program. Iran has been under US sanctions since 2018, when the Trump administration withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal. Iran has since resumed uranium enrichment beyond the limits set by the deal, which the US and European powers have been attempting to revive.

The meeting between Shamkhani and Levitin is seen as a sign of continued cooperation between Iran and Russia, despite the international pressure on Iran.