Saturday, 18 January, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian solidified military ties on Friday by signing a 20-year strategic partnership, a move expected to heighten Western concerns.
The agreement outlines expanded cooperation between the two nations, including intelligence-sharing, joint military exercises, reciprocal warship port visits, and officer training programs.
According to the pact, neither country will permit its territory to be used for actions that threaten the other, nor will it assist any aggressor targeting its counterpart. The agreement also emphasizes collaborative efforts to address shared military threats.
But it did not include a mutual defence clause of the kind included in a treaty between Russia and North Korea, which the West says has seen North Korean troops deployed to fight in Ukraine, something Moscow has neither confirmed nor denied.
There was also no mention of arms transfers, a topic of particular concern to the US and its allies, though the two sides said they would develop "military-technical cooperation."
Pezeshkian, on his first Kremlin visit since winning the presidency last July, hailed the treaty as an important new chapter in bilateral relations, while Putin said Moscow and Tehran shared many views on international affairs.
"This (treaty) creates better conditions for bilateral cooperation in all areas," said Putin, emphasising the upside for economic ties and trade, which he said was mostly carried out in the two countries' currencies.
"We need less bureaucracy and more concrete action. Whatever difficulties are created by others, we will be able to overcome them and move forward," Putin added, referring to Western sanctions on both countries.
Putin said Russia regularly informed Iran about what was going on in the Ukraine conflict and that they closely consulted on events in the Middle East and the South Caucasus region.
Russia and Iran, key military backers of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, now face challenges following his recent ousting and flight to Moscow. Meanwhile, Western nations accuse Iran of supplying missiles and drones used in Russian strikes on Ukraine. Both Moscow and Tehran deny these allegations, asserting that their growing alliance is not aimed at any third country.
President Vladimir Putin noted progress on a proposed gas pipeline to transport Russian gas to Iran via Azerbaijan, despite logistical challenges. He also acknowledged delays in constructing new nuclear reactors for Iran but expressed openness to further nuclear collaborations.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking through Russian state media translators, hailed the treaty as evidence of independence from Western influence. “The agreements we reached today are a catalyst for the emergence of a multi-polar world,” he declared, expressing hope for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine war. “War is never the ideal path to solve disputes, and we would welcome negotiations to achieve peace between Russia and Ukraine,” he added.
Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, Moscow has strengthened ties with nations antagonistic to the U.S., including strategic pacts with North Korea and Belarus, and a partnership agreement with China. Iran has played a pivotal role, with its drones reportedly used extensively in Ukraine. The U.S. accused Tehran in September of providing short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, an allegation Iran denies. While the Kremlin has not confirmed receiving Iranian missiles, it admits cooperation with Iran in "highly sensitive areas."
Russia has previously supplied Iran with S-300 air defence missile systems. Iranian media has speculated about potential interest in advanced Russian systems like the S-400 and modern fighter jets.
Pezeshkian’s visit comes amid Iran’s declining influence in the Middle East, following Assad’s fall in Syria and intensified Israeli strikes on Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. The fate of Russia’s two major military facilities in Syria remains uncertain as the post-Assad landscape evolves.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian solidified military ties on Friday by signing a 20-year strategic partnership, a move expected to heighten Western concerns.
The agreement outlines expanded cooperation between the two nations, including intelligence-sharing, joint military exercises, reciprocal warship port visits, and officer training programs.
According to the pact, neither country will permit its territory to be used for actions that threaten the other, nor will it assist any aggressor targeting its counterpart. The agreement also emphasizes collaborative efforts to address shared military threats.
But it did not include a mutual defence clause of the kind included in a treaty between Russia and North Korea, which the West says has seen North Korean troops deployed to fight in Ukraine, something Moscow has neither confirmed nor denied.
There was also no mention of arms transfers, a topic of particular concern to the US and its allies, though the two sides said they would develop "military-technical cooperation."
Pezeshkian, on his first Kremlin visit since winning the presidency last July, hailed the treaty as an important new chapter in bilateral relations, while Putin said Moscow and Tehran shared many views on international affairs.
"This (treaty) creates better conditions for bilateral cooperation in all areas," said Putin, emphasising the upside for economic ties and trade, which he said was mostly carried out in the two countries' currencies.
"We need less bureaucracy and more concrete action. Whatever difficulties are created by others, we will be able to overcome them and move forward," Putin added, referring to Western sanctions on both countries.
Putin said Russia regularly informed Iran about what was going on in the Ukraine conflict and that they closely consulted on events in the Middle East and the South Caucasus region.
Russia and Iran, key military backers of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, now face challenges following his recent ousting and flight to Moscow. Meanwhile, Western nations accuse Iran of supplying missiles and drones used in Russian strikes on Ukraine. Both Moscow and Tehran deny these allegations, asserting that their growing alliance is not aimed at any third country.
President Vladimir Putin noted progress on a proposed gas pipeline to transport Russian gas to Iran via Azerbaijan, despite logistical challenges. He also acknowledged delays in constructing new nuclear reactors for Iran but expressed openness to further nuclear collaborations.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking through Russian state media translators, hailed the treaty as evidence of independence from Western influence. “The agreements we reached today are a catalyst for the emergence of a multi-polar world,” he declared, expressing hope for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine war. “War is never the ideal path to solve disputes, and we would welcome negotiations to achieve peace between Russia and Ukraine,” he added.
Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, Moscow has strengthened ties with nations antagonistic to the U.S., including strategic pacts with North Korea and Belarus, and a partnership agreement with China. Iran has played a pivotal role, with its drones reportedly used extensively in Ukraine. The U.S. accused Tehran in September of providing short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, an allegation Iran denies. While the Kremlin has not confirmed receiving Iranian missiles, it admits cooperation with Iran in "highly sensitive areas."
Russia has previously supplied Iran with S-300 air defence missile systems. Iranian media has speculated about potential interest in advanced Russian systems like the S-400 and modern fighter jets.
Pezeshkian’s visit comes amid Iran’s declining influence in the Middle East, following Assad’s fall in Syria and intensified Israeli strikes on Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. The fate of Russia’s two major military facilities in Syria remains uncertain as the post-Assad landscape evolves.
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