From correspondents in Tehran Province, Iran, 12:00 AM IST

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Tuesday predicted no changes in relations with Russia during the presidency of Dmitry Medvedev.

'Iran and Russia are two old neighbours and their relations should naturally be united and therefore I predict no changes,' Ahmadinejad told a press conference in Tehran.

'Furthermore, global developments and our common stances on several issues will push both states towards further deepening bilateral ties,' he added.

He also declared readiness to visit the new Russian president in Moscow and invited Medvedev to Tehran.

Although Moscow is cooperating with Tehran on a light-water reactor in the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran, Russia voted last March in favour of a third UN Security Council resolution, including harsher financial sanctions, against the Islamic state.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)