Presidents of Russia and Iran Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement in Moscow
The new deal covers a broad spectrum of cooperation, including politics, security, trade, transport, and energy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement, deepening the partnership between two of the world’s most heavily sanctioned nations.
The "comprehensive strategic partnership treaty" includes provisions for collaboration in various sectors, such as trade, military cooperation, science, culture, and education. Speaking alongside Pezeshkian at a joint press conference in Moscow on Friday, Putin hailed the treaty as a “real breakthrough,” aimed at fostering stable and sustainable development for Russia, Iran, and the wider region.
The Kremlin described the treaty as an enhancement of the “military-political and trade-economic” ties between Moscow and Tehran, although the full details of the agreement remain undisclosed.
Pezeshkian emphasized that the agreement marks a new chapter in bilateral relations, particularly in the area of trade.
The two leaders outlined plans to expand cooperation in several key areas, including politics, security, trade, transport, and energy. In response to Western sanctions, both countries have ramped up trade activities, with Iran supplying Russia with self-detonating “Shahed” drones, which Moscow has used in its ongoing strikes on Ukraine, according to Ukrainian and Western officials.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Tehran has become a crucial strategic partner for Moscow, a shift that has raised concerns among Western officials who view both nations as destabilizing global actors.
The treaty, which has been in the works for years, builds on a 2001 agreement between Russia and Iran that has been periodically renewed. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the pact as “constructive” and aimed at strengthening the capabilities of both countries and their allies across the globe.
The treaty is expected to remain in effect for 20 years, according to Kazem Jalali, the Iranian Ambassador to Russia, as reported by the state-owned news agency TASS.
Building closer ties with Iran, China, and North Korea has been a central focus of President Putin's foreign policy as he seeks to challenge what he refers to as US-led “global hegemony.”
Pezeshkian’s visit to Russia comes after Tehran experienced several foreign policy setbacks in the past year. These include a Syrian opposition offensive that ousted President Bashar al-Assad, a key ally of both Russia and Iran, and the weakening of Hezbollah, the Iran-aligned Lebanese group, following its war with Israel.
The signing of the treaty also comes just days before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, known for his hardline stance on Iran. Trump has repeatedly threatened military action to resolve conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and has criticized the 2015 nuclear deal that provided sanctions relief to Iran.
During his first term, Trump withdrew the US from the multinational nuclear agreement and ordered the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, sparking tensions between the two nations. Last year, Trump warned that the US would retaliate strongly if an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate him had succeeded.