Russia moves to ratify comprehensive treaty with Iran

Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally submitted the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty with Iran to the State Duma for ratification, a significant step in the deepening ties between Moscow and Tehran.

The treaty was signed in January, during Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Moscow, and aims to institutionalize long-term cooperation between the two nations.

Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali said that the agreement consists of 47 articles covering a broad spectrum of collaboration, including "advanced technologies, cybersecurity, peaceful nuclear energy, military-defense cooperation, counterterrorism, and anti-money laundering measures".

He said the latest treaty now moves beyond the scope of a previous 20-year strategic pact signed in 2001 which was automatically extended for five years in 2021.

The leaders of both countries agreed that the existing agreement was outdated and insufficient to cover the current breadth of their evolving relationship, Jalali said.

While the specifics have not been publicly disclosed by either Tehran or Moscow, mirroring the secrecy surrounding Iran's 25-year agreement with China, Russia has indicated that the 2001 pact involved collaboration in industry and technology, security projects, energy, and the construction of nuclear power plants.

Russian state-run TASS news agency reported that the pact includes a security clause saying that "in the event of an attack on one party, the other party will under no circumstances support the aggressor."

Moscow and Tehran have leveled up their military cooperation in recent years, particularly in Syria, where both have backed former President Bashar al-Assad.

Additionally, Russia has deployed Iranian-made drones and missiles in Ukraine, despite Tehran’s official denials.

One of the key components of the agreement is energy cooperation, Putin announcing that Russia is moving forward with plans to export natural gas to Iran, with projections reaching 55 billion cubic meters per year.

However, he acknowledged delays in Russia’s nuclear infrastructure projects in Iran, saying, "We have a major project in the nuclear power industry. One unit is already operational, and we are discussing the possibility of building additional units."

The strengthening of ties between Russia and Iran has accelerated in recent years, driven by mutual isolation stemming from Western sanctions – imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and on Iran for its nuclear program, support for regional armed groups, and human rights abuses – as well as a shared strategic interest in countering US influence in the region.

Both countries are also seeking ways to circumvent the sanctions, with recent discussions exploring the expansion of trade using national currencies and alternative financial mechanisms.

Analysts suggest that the timing of the ratification process may also be influenced by the return of Donald Trump to the White House.

According to a presidential decree released Wednesday, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko will serve as Putin’s official representative when presenting the treaty for consideration in the Russian Federal Assembly.