MOSCOW, March 6. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed with his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi the implementation of joint infrastructure projects. The presidents positively assessed the development of relations between Moscow and Tehran, the Kremlin press service said on Monday.

"Both sides gave a positive assessment of the level and dynamics of the development of Russia-Iran relations," the statement said. The press service pointed out that during the conversation the leaders "discussed issues of bilateral cooperation in various areas, including the implementation of joint infrastructure projects."

"The sides agreed to maintain further contacts," the Kremlin added.

Today's conversation is the third since the beginning of 2023. Putin and Raisi communicated over phone twice in January.

One of the infrastructure projects Russia and Iran are pursuing is the International North-South Transport Corridor. An intergovernmental agreement on corridor was signed by Russia, India and Iran in 2000. Later, the number of participants expanded to 14. The goal of the project is to attract transit cargo traffic from India, Iran and the Persian Gulf through the Russian territory to Europe. If compared with the sea route through the Suez Canal, the land route is twice as short, which reduces the time and cost of transportation. Now the project combines several different transport systems of individual states.