Iran's acting president reassured Russian president Vladimir Putin that regardless of the incoming president, ties with Iran would remain "deep".
“The Supreme Leader of Iran wanted me to convey that the relationship between Iran and Russia is very deep and will not be affected by changes in government,” Mohammed Mokhber said.
Mokhber and Putin met on Thursday in Astana, Kazakhstan's capital, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.
During the meeting, Putin emphasized the unity of Russia and Iran's international agenda, stating that “our approaches towards key issues of the international agenda almost completely coincide.”
Mokhber stated that the "strategic relationship" between Iran and Russia has "completely disrupted the global balance of power," adding that "there is no longer any talk of a unipolar world."
According to Russia's foreign ministry, Moscow and Tehran are negotiating a comprehensive bilateral cooperation agreement that reflects the "unprecedented upswing" in their relations.
However, conflicting accounts emerged regarding the status of the agreement, with some Russian officials hinting that the delay might have been due to the change of government in Iran, potentially affecting the deal.
In June, Russia's foreign ministry announced a temporary suspension of work on the comprehensive cooperation agreement, while Iranian authorities maintained no interruption in its preparation.
Zamir Kabulov, a Russian foreign ministry official, remarked, "This is a strategic decision made by the leadership of both countries. The process has halted due to issues faced by our Iranian partners."
Subsequently, Iranian and Russian officials issued statements reaffirming that efforts to finalize the agreement were ongoing and dismissing reports of its suspension as exaggerated.
During late president Ebrahim Raisi's tenure, efforts to bolster ties with Russia intensified, resulting in numerous contracts aimed at expanding cooperation across various sectors.
However, tangible progress was limited as Russia, embroiled in the Ukraine conflict, faced financial constraints following global sanctions that hindered its investment capabilities in Iran.
Tehran and Moscow first established a long-term agreement in March 2001, officially known as the Treaty of the Foundation of Mutual Relations and the Principles of Cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation Act. Initially set for a decade, this treaty was subsequently extended twice, each time for five-year terms.
In 2021, Iran’s ambassador to Russia confirmed that both nations had agreed to extend the agreement for an additional five years, with the new expiration date set for 2026.
However, Iran has become a key supplier of drones to Russia in its war on Ukraine, building a production plant as the war looks to have no end in sight, deepening military ties between the two sanctioned states.