Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Russian President-elect Dmitry Medvedev stand with candles during a night Easter service in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow on April 27, 2008. (UPI Photo/Anatoli Zhdanov)

The assurance from Putin was conveyed to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Wednesday by Russia's acting Security Council chief Valentin Sobolev, the Russian news agency Novosti reports.

At a meeting in Tehran Sobolev said Russia "confirms its principles in relations with Iran, and that its policy does not depend on who is in power at the moment."

He and Ahmadinejad discussed international and regional issues including the Iranian nuclear program and bilateral cooperation in peaceful energy use, the report said.

Sobolev was among a delegation of high-ranking Russia officials who visited Tehran.

Medvedev will be inaugurated as Russia's president on May 7 when Putin will assume the position of prime minister.