Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian arrived in Moscow on Friday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to sign an agreement on the comprehensive strategic partnership of the two countries. The provisions of the treaty include, among others, the issue of partnership in the sphere of security and defense, reported the Russian state news agency TASS. The agreement raises concerns in Western countries.
According to Reuters, Masoud Pezeshkian visited the Kremlin for the first time since taking over the presidency in July last year after his predecessor Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash. The conversation with Putin preceding the signing of the treaty is to concern bilateral relations and international issues of both countries.
The agreement is to be valid for 20 years. It contains 47 articles that cover all areas of bilateral cooperation. Moscow and Tehran say their increasingly close relations are not directed against other countries. However, Reuters points out that they raise concerns in the West, which perceives both countries as “harmful influences” in the international arena. Pezeshkian was accompanied by his oil minister.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin (15/01/2025)PAP/EPA/ALEXANDER KAZAKOV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL / POOL
Russia's partnership with countries hostile to the US
Reuters points out that Russia made extensive use of Iranian drones during war in Ukraine. At the same time last September United States accused Tehran of providing Russia with short-range ballistic missiles, but Tehran denies supplying the mentioned military equipment. The Kremlin also refused to confirm that it had received Iranian missiles, but admitted that its cooperation with Iran covers “the most sensitive areas.”
The strategic partnership of Russia and Iran, especially in the context of sanctions imposed by the West due to the Iranian nuclear program, is important because both countries together with China they seek to weaken the influence of the US and its allies not only in the Middle East, but around the world, experts say.
At the same time, Reuters reminds that in addition to Iran, Russia has tightened ties with other countries hostile to the US, such as North Koreasince the beginning of the war in Ukraine, and has also concluded strategic pacts with Pyongyang and a close ally Belarusas well as a strategic partnership agreement with China.
A previous meeting between Putin and Pezeshkan took place on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan in October 2024 and at a cultural forum in Turkmenistan in the same month.
Meeting of Iranian President Masud Pezeshkan with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the BRICS summit in 2024PAP/EPA/MAXIM SHEMETOV
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Main photo source: Iranian Presidency / Zuma Press / Forum