Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezheskian are expected to sign a “comprehensive strategic partnership” in Moscow on Friday, which they are presenting as a new stage in a growing alliance between the two countries.
Russia and Iran, subject to international sanctions that restrict their trade, have become close allies in recent years as their standoff with the United States and Europeans has grown.
Tehran and Moscow want to be counterweights, along with Beijing, to American influence. They have developed close ties in various fields and support each other on many international issues, from the Middle East to the conflict in Ukraine.
Earlier in the week, the Kremlin confirmed that the two countries would strengthen that alliance with the signing on Friday of a “comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement” by Vladimir Putin and Massoud Pezheskian, who is on an official visit to Russia.
According to the Russian presidency, the two leaders will speak to the press after the signing of the agreement.
Their meeting will take place a few days before the return to the White House of Donald Trump, architect of the so-called “maximum pressure” policy towards Iran during his first term (2017-2021).
Friday’s agreement will cover “economic and trade cooperation in the fields of energy, environment and issues related to defense and security,” Iran’s embassy in Russia announced last week.
“It is a step towards creating a fairer and more balanced world. Iran and Russia, aware of their historical responsibility, are building a new order,” Abbas Araghchi, the head of Iranian diplomacy, wrote in an article published in the Russian news agency Ria Novosti.
He stated that it is about replacing “hegemony” — as implied by the West — with “cooperation.”
His Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, said on Tuesday that the agreement aims to “develop the capabilities” of the two countries, mainly to “ensure a reliable defense capability”.
He argued that the agreement is not “directed against anyone” and that the West seeks “constantly” to show that “Russia, Iran, China and North Korea are preparing something against someone”.
Although the contours of this new agreement are still unclear, Moscow concluded an accord of the same name last year with North Korea. One of its articles provides for “immediate military assistance” in the event of an armed attack by a third country.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, quoted by Russian media, confirmed this week that the deal with Tehran is not aimed at “creating a military alliance” similar to the one sealed between Moscow and Pyongyang.
North Korea is accused by Kiev and the West of sending soldiers to fight alongside the Russian military against Ukrainian forces. Moscow and Pyongyang have neither confirmed nor denied it.
Tehran is accused by the West of supplying drones with explosives and short-range missiles to Russia, thereby aiding the Russian military in Ukraine. Iran rejects these accusations.
The last meeting between Pezheskian and Putin was in October at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia. Vladimir Putin had then called for the consolidation of “positive dynamics” in terms of their economic cooperation.
Russia mainly wants to develop a supply chain corridor (rail and sea) between Moscow, Baku and Tehran.
Iran and Russia were also allies of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad who was ousted on December 8 after an Islamist-dominated rebel coalition attacked.
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