Finnish border guards patrol at the border between Finland and Russia the 3rd of November, 2009.
IN PHOTO: Finnish border guards patrol at the border between Finland and Russia the 3rd of November, 2009. From closer NATO ties to rumors of Kremlin-backed land deals on its border, Finland's diplomatic balancing act with Russia has come under the spotlight before Sunday's parliamentary election as politicians debate how far to challenge the Kremlin. REUTERS/Mikko Stig/Lehtikuva REUTERS/Mikko Stig/Lehtikuva

Iran has joined the fray of rising tensions contributing to the instability over Ukraine and the Eastern Europe. Hossein Dehghan, Iran’s Defence Minister, said his country is open to the idea of collaborating with Russia to stop NATO’s European military expansion plans.

Sputnik News reports Tehran suggested the idea of “developing a multifaceted cooperation” with Russia. However, not only President Vladimir Putin’s bailiwick was mentioned. Dehghan, who was in Moscow for a two-day conference on international security, said the collaboration will work better with China and India also in it. The meeting was attended by military chiefs from Tajikistan, Argentina, Indonesia, Iran, Belarus, Kyrgystan, Pakistan, Armenia, Serbia, South Africa and its host Russia. Portal RBTH said it was the fourth time that Russia organised a conference on international security.

"We would like to support the idea of developing a multifaceted cooperation between China, Iran, Russia and India to oppose the purposeful expansion of NATO to the east and placing a missile shield in Europe,” he said. He added Iran, which just recently received news of the delivery of its long-stalled S-300 air defence missile system by Russia, was ready to start talks on the issue to ensure the region’s secure stability.

Dehghan said "mechanisms of cooperation within regional organizations" have been initially discussed by Iranian and Russian defence ministers. The mechanisms could be placed between Caspian states. He added China was open to the cooperation and has expressed support for the proposal.

The idea of the defensive alliance seemed welcomed by the Russians. Gazeta.ru online newspaper, citing an unnamed source in the Russian Defence Ministry, reports Russia “finds itself in strategic solitude and is trying to reach anyone possible in order to show the world that it is not isolated."

Earlier this week, Sergei Shoigu, Russian Defence Minister, accused the United States as the mastermind behind the instability breaking Ukraine. Russia’s aggressions in the region has stoked countries in eastern Europe, prompting traditionally neutral countries Sweden and Finland to consider embracing NATO membership to ensure their respective security.

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