Russia and Iran plan to conduct joint operations in maritime security to prevent unlawful actions at sea, such as poaching and smuggling.

A few days ago, the Russian Justice Ministry handed over drafts of documents for the legal procedures of the future cooperation on sea security to Tehran, The Voice of Russia reported on Friday.

The agreements will be signed by the end of the year during a visit to Tehran by Russian Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov.

The justice ministries of the two countries will also collaborate in the campaign against the illegal drug trade out of Afghanistan since Russia and Iran are at the crossroads of the distribution lines.

In December 2010, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to increase cooperation in the campaign against drug production and trafficking.

Earlier in January, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the Islamic Republic welcomes the expansion of relations between Tehran and Moscow in all spheres.

In a phone conversation with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Ahmadinejad stated that Tehran and Moscow should continue cooperating and remain friends.

Medvedev said that Moscow is interested in expanding relations with Iran in the areas of energy, fuel, and transportation and increasing the volume of commercial transactions, adding, “Russia is ready for every kind of cooperation with the Islamic Republic.”

In November 2010, Ahmadinejad met his Russian counterpart in the Azeri capital Baku on the sidelines of the Caspian Sea summit and emphasized that the two countries should stand by each other as two neighbors with common interests.