MOSCOW, August 29./ITAR-TASS/. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Russia and Iran, Sergey Lavrov and Javad Zarif, meet in Moscow on Friday to discuss Iran's nuclear program, bilateral cooperation matters, as well as preparation for a Caspian summit.

Russia's Foreign Ministry analysts pointed out ahead of Zarif's visit to Moscow that "Russo-Iranian interaction can have a positive effect on the situation in the Near and Middle East, and create additional conditions for ensuring security and stability in the region".

Analysts emphasized the intention to continue to "develop in every way the entire spectrum of mutually beneficial contacts with Iran".

Touching upon Iran's nuclear prorgram, Russia's Foreign Ministry analysts expressed confidence that the accords, reached in Geneva in November last year, "open up a realistic prospect for achieving a long-term and reliable settlement of the problem in November this year".

The Russian Foreign Ministry proceeds from the assumption that "all negotiators will show political will for reaching final mutually acceptable understandings which will make it possible fully to restore the international community's trust in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program". "This could also have a favourable effect on the situation in the Middle East and promote headway towards establishing there a zone free from weapons of mass destruction," the Ministry analysts are convinced.

"It is essential for Russia and Iran to give an additional impetus through joint efforts to accomplishing the tasks facing Caspian countries to ensure a successful holding of the 4th Caspian Summit in Astrakhan in autumn this year. We expect to reach out to signing a number of important documents during the Summit," the Ministry pointed out.

Moscow is stating coincidence of the two countries' positions on the Syrian problem. "We come out against settling the Syrian crisis through the use of force," the Ministry officials stressed.

Russia also welcomed "Tehran's intention to establish a close interaction on Afghanistan, primarily within the scope of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization". "Iran's efforts in counteracting the trafficking of narcotics from Afghan territory also deserve a high appraisal," the Russian Ministry added.