Russia, Iran team up to enhance national security

Moscow and Tehran will cooperate in ensuring their national security, Russian Security Council head Nikolai Patrushev said on Tuesday. "We have agreed on cooperation between our Security Council staffs," Patrushev said in Tehran. "This involves new threats such as international terrorism, drug trafficking and others." One important line in strengthening regional security is cooperation via the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which shows "good prospects," he said. "We have addressed regional cooperation and intend to consolidate regional security mainly under the aegis of the United Nations. The outlook for cooperation within the framework of the SCO is good," Patrushev said. Established in Shanghai in 2001, the SCO comprises six countries: China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.