Russian media reports say Russia and Iran have signed a declaration to counter unilateral sanctions imposed by the US and Western countries.

TASS reports that top Russian diplomat Sergey Lavrov says noted that the declaration will help overcome sanction imposed by the United States and its allies.

“We signed the Declaration on Ways and Means to Counteract, Mitigate and Compensate for the Negative Consequences of Unilateral Coercive Measures,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was quoted as saying ahead of a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Moscow on December 5.

Lavrov reportedly said the agreement is an important step in “increasing the coordination of efforts by members of the world community to overcome illegal sanctions.”

He also said the talks will be used to exchange views on pressing bilateral and regional issues.  "We traditionally have an extensive agenda," the Russian foreign minister said.

He accused the United States and its allies of making the sanctions a “substitute for diplomacy.”

Iranian reports say a joint statement issued on Tuesday outlines cooperation efforts to counter and offset the adverse effects of coercive measures by the West, especially sanctions imposed by the United States on both Iran and Russia.

After signing the statement, the foreign ministers held talks aimed at further developing bilateral relations.

According to IRNA, Lavrov pointed out that this was the sixth time he was meeting with his Iranian counterpart this year, and reiterated the commitment of both sides to advance bilateral ties.

Lavrov and Amir-Abdollahian’s meeting comes after both diplomats participated in the 12th annual meeting of foreign ministers from Caspian Sea littoral states, which was also attended by their Azerbaijani, Kazakh and Turkmen counterparts.​​​​​​​