A new cooperation pact has been signed between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin, strengthening ties between two nations heavily impacted by international sanctions.
The “comprehensive strategic partnership treaty” encompasses multiple domains including trade, military cooperation, science, culture, and education, according to officials from both countries.
During a joint press conference in Moscow on Friday, Putin characterized the agreement as a “real breakthrough” that would foster stable development for Russia, Iran, and the broader region. The Kremlin indicated the treaty would enhance “military-political and trade-economic” relations, though specific details remain private.
Both leaders emphasized expanded cooperation across various sectors including politics, security, trade, transport, and energy. Pezeshkian highlighted this as a new chapter in bilateral relations, particularly regarding trade.
The two nations have increased their economic engagement in response to Western sanctions. Iran has supplied Russia with self-detonating “Shahed” drones, which Ukrainian and Western officials report Moscow has deployed in nighttime attacks on Ukraine.
Moscow has viewed Iran as a crucial strategic partner since launching its Ukraine invasion in February 2022. Western officials have expressed concern about this alliance, viewing both countries as destabilizing global influences.
The treaty, which replaces a periodically renewed 2001 agreement, resulted from years of negotiations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described it as “constructive” and aimed at strengthening the capabilities of both nations and their allies worldwide. According to Iranian Ambassador Kazem Jalali, the agreement will remain effective for 20 years.
Putin’s foreign policy has prioritized strengthening relationships with Iran, China, and North Korea as part of his challenge to what he terms US-led “global hegemony.”
The timing of Pezeshkian’s Moscow visit follows recent Iranian foreign policy challenges, including the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government to opposition forces and the weakening of Iran-aligned Hezbollah following conflict with Israel.
The treaty’s signing precedes Trump’s return to power. The president-elect, known for his hard stance against Iran, has promised decisive military action to resolve conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. During his previous term, Trump withdrew from a multinational nuclear agreement with Iran, ordered the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in 2020, and recently threatened severe retaliation over an alleged Iranian assassination plot against him.
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