Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that Iran is Russia’s good neighbor and reliable partner.

"Russia and Iran share many years, if not centuries, of bilateral cooperation. We have maintained diplomatic relations for more than 500 years," Putin said as he began talks with Iran’s visiting President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday.

"Iran is our good neighbor and reliable and stable partner," he said.

Putin believes that Moscow and Tehran "work together effectively along all lines."

"This concerns international activity and the solution of major and very acute international problems. Also, we work in the economic field," he said. "Lately we achieved considerable results in all these realms of activity."

For example, he mentioned growth in bilateral turnover, which was up 70% in 2016.

"This is a unique phenomenon in the current complicated economic conditions," he said, adding that it was largely an achievement of Iran’s president and government.