Iran-Russia Culture Deal ‘Excludes Education’ Despite Putin School Plan

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during a meeting in Tehran, Iran July 19, 2022.
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during a meeting in Tehran, Iran July 19, 2022.

A new cultural agreement between Iran and Russia will exclude education, according to an Iranian lawmaker speaking on Friday.

The statement by MP Mohammad Vahidi comes after President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday he plans to open Russian schools in the Islamic Republic.

Last week, Iran's parliament approved a deal to maintain “cooperation between the government of Iran and Russia through cultural centers”.

On Friday, Vahidi insisted that the move is “not relevant to the Ministry of Education”, but rather to the “institutions that act as cultural advisors for the two countries”.

Putin had stressed the importance of "soft power" in improving Iranian-Russian relations, describing it as a means of promoting culture and education.

“Soft power in the kindest and best sense of this word, the promotion of our culture and our education systems. We will mull this over as well,” he added.

Political, trade and military ties between Russia and Iran have been developing in a relationship which is of growing concern to the US.

Earlier this week, Iran lifted visa requirements for visitors from 33 countries, including Russia.

Russia said on Tuesday that it's working on a major new agreement with Iran without revealing any details.

A rare meeting lasting five hours between President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi took place last week in the Kremlin during which the two pointed to the "start of a new chapter" in their bilateral relationship.

Tehran and Moscow have become particularly close allies since Iran began supplying Russia with drones and missiles as part of its invasion of Ukraine.

According to analysts, the ongoing Gaza war has helped Russia by diverting worldwide attention away from its war in Ukraine and by allowing it to align itself with nations in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

While Iran has denied any involvement in Hamas’s October 7 deadly assault on Israel, it has praised the militant group publicly. Additionally, its proxies have attacked Israel, including Hezbollah from the border of Lebanon.