Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Peskov signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between the two countries in Moscow on Friday.
The new agreement is expected to take relations between Moscow and Tehran to a new level: it strengthens their status as strategic partners.
It also creates a legal framework for the further development of long-term cooperation between the two countries.
According to officials from both countries, the agreement covers all areas, including defense, counterterrorism, energy, finance, transport, industry, agriculture, culture, science and technology. This document aims to replace the current agreement on the foundations of relations and principles of cooperation between Russia and Iran, which was signed in 2001.
The new agreement has been underway since 2022, and in June last year it became known that the parties had agreed on its text.
As the Kremlin noted earlier, this document reflects the rise of bilateral relations to a new level. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed that the new treaty between Russia and Iran is not directed against any country.
He said that the treaty is of a constructive nature and “aims to strengthen the capabilities of Russia and Iran in various parts of the world,” in order to better develop the economy, resolve social issues, and reliably ensure defense capabilities. For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the treaty covers all aspects of cooperation between the two countries.
He added that “this is not just a political document, but a roadmap for the future.” In his article for RIA Novosti, the Iranian foreign minister identified three main areas of the treaty: economy, technology, and humanitarian ties.
He also noted that strengthening cooperation in the field of defense and security will be an important aspect of the new document.
The Iranian foreign minister explained that the treaty includes, among other things, completing the international transport corridor “North-South” and increasing the volume of trade. Within the framework of the new treaty, Tehran and Moscow intend to cooperate in the production, transportation, and export of energy, and new technologies in the field of renewable energy will be transferred.
In addition, the strategic agreement between Russia and Iran will facilitate travel conditions for tourists and create joint cultural programs, Araghchi noted.
