Israeli PM, Russian president discuss regional issues

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Russian President Vladimir Putin

JERUSALEM, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Israel Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation on Thursday to discuss regional issues.

During the conversation, the two leaders vowed to continue "close cooperation," said a statement by the prime minister's office.

The conversation came at the backdrop of talks being held in Austria's capital Vienna by world powers regarding a deal on the Iranian nuclear program.

Bennett and Putin met for the first time several months ago, soon after the Israeli prime minister took office.

At the end of the conversation, Putin invited Bennett and his wife to Russia's St. Petersburg, to which the Israeli premier responded positively.