MOSCOW: In the face of harsh Western sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian strengthened their relationship on Friday by signing a wide cooperation agreement.
According to Russian and Iranian authorities, the "comprehensive strategic partnership treaty" encompasses everything from research, education, and culture to economic and military cooperation. The 20-year agreement may be extended.As a "real breakthrough, creating conditions for the stable and sustainable development of Russia, Iran, and the entire region," Putin hailed the agreement.
He expressed hope that the new deal would help remove administrative obstacles and deepen connections, saying that trade and economic cooperation were still insufficient. The Russian leader went on to say that the nations are working to overcome technological challenges in order to go forward with plans to construct transportation corridors to Iranian ports in the Gulf and send Russian natural gas to Iran through Azerbaijan.
Pezeshkian stated that the projects are doable and that specialists were attempting to overcome any lingering challenges.
The Iranian president declared, "We witness a new chapter of strategic relations," and the two nations planned to increase their "level of security cooperation" in addition to their commerce ties.
His visit preceded President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday. Trump has promised to mediate a settlement in Ukraine and adopt a more assertive posture towards Iran, which is facing escalating economic issues as well as other difficulties, such as military defeats in its sphere of influence throughout the Middle East.
Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Kremlin, denied any connection to Trump's inauguration, claiming that Pezeshkian's visit had been scheduled for a long time.
The agreement with Iran comes after one with North Korea last year. Former President George W. Bush famously referred to these nations, together with Iraq, as "the Axis of Evil."
The agreement with Tehran does not provide for reciprocal support in the event of aggression, in contrast to the one with Pyongyang. However, it does require every nation to refrain from providing military or other assistance to an aggressor who is attacking a third party.
In the agreement, Moscow and Tehran—both of which have been subject to severe Western sanctions—agreed to coordinate their responses to these limitations and enable payments in their own currencies. The agreement also calls for collaboration on security matters and the sharing of intelligence.
Putin welcomed Pezeshkian and said the new contract will "give an additional impetus to practically all areas of our cooperation" as they sat down for discussions.
The documents provide a "solid foundation for our forward movement," according to Pezeshkian, who met Putin for the third time since taking office in July.
"We are firmly on this path, and we do view our relationship with you as vital, sensitive, and strategic," he stated.
In what appears to be a reference to the United States, the Iranian president underlined that nations in the area should handle their own issues and said that outside intervention will only heighten tensions and destabilise the situation.
He claimed, "They come from another side of the world to cause chaos in the area." "These connections will undoubtedly defuse their plot."
Since Putin ordered soldiers into Ukraine in February 2022, Russia and Iran have become closer. Tehran has denied giving Moscow hundreds of drones to deploy in an attack on Ukraine, a charge that Ukraine and the West have levelled at Tehran.
Speaking in favour of potential peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Pezeshkian stated that "war is not a solution" and urged the West to "avoid imposing excessive demands" and take into account the "security concerns" of others.
Pezeshkian attended the BRICS conference, which Russia held in Kazan last year, where Iran joined the group of emerging economies.
After the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991, Russia and Iran, who had previously had tense relations, became friendly. Moscow became a major trading partner and supplier of weapons and technologies to Tehran, which has been subject to harsh international sanctions.
Russia is constructing two more nuclear reactors in Iran in addition to the country's first nuclear facility, which was inaugurated in 2013.
Russia participated in the 2015 agreement between Iran and six nuclear-armed nations that granted Tehran sanctions relief in return for reducing its atomic program. When the United States unilaterally withdrew from the accord during Trump's first term, the Kremlin provided Iran with political backing.
During Syria's civil war, Russia and Iran also worked together to support Bashar Assad's regime, but they were unable to stop him from being overthrown last month by the opposition's lightning-fast attack. Assad escaped to Russia with his family.
His removal delivered a further blow to Tehran's self-proclaimed "Axis of Resistance" throughout the region, which had already been severely damaged by Israel's offensives against two Iranian-backed terrorist organisations: Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. Israel also launched two direct attacks on Iran.
As Tehran experiences economic difficulties and painful failures throughout its area of influence in the Middle East, it becomes more and more dependent on Moscow's support. Trump's approach of "maximum pressure" on Iran might cause the problems to worsen whenever he returns to the White House.
Iran specifically wants advanced Russian weaponry, such as fighter planes and long-range air defence systems, to assist repel any Israeli strikes.
