Russia And Iran Sign 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement', Pledging To Promote 'A New Fair And Sustainable Multipolar World Order'; Russian Commentators: The Agreement Formalizes Existing Military Cooperation

Against the backdrop of Russia's growing aggravation with the West and the unprecedented sanctions placed on it, Moscow has been seeking rapprochement with the world's "rogue states". The Kremlin has been conducting joint military exercises and sending official delegations to Iran, Belarus, and North Korea (DPKR), seeking cooperation agreements and technological exchange. Indeed, in spring 2023, the Kremlin reported the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus territory. More recently, on December 5, 2024, a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement between Russia and North Korea came into force, containing a clause on military assistance. Moreover, there have been reports that DPRK forces have been participating in the hostilities in Ukraine.[1] In January 2025, Russia reached a similar agreement with Iran. This report reviews the agreement.

On January 17, 2025, President Vladimir Putin held talks with his Iranian counterpart, President Masoud Pezeshkian, at the Kremlin. During the meeting, the Russian president announced the signing of a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement" between the two countries. The agreement was reportedly ready in summer 2024, but the signing was held off until just a few days before the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump.[2]

Iranian President Pezeshkian and Russian President Putin during the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement (Source: Kristina Kormilitsyna / International News Agency "Russia Today").[3]

In the agreement, the two parties pledged to promote "an objective process of forming a new fair and sustainable multipolar world order", reaffirming their commitment to the spirit and principles of the United Nations charter, as well as generally recognized norms of international law.[4]

Russia And Iran Agree Not To Provide Assistance To 'Aggressors', Not To Allow The Use Of Their Territories By 'Separatist Movements That Threaten The Stability And Territorial Integrity Of The Other Party'

The document consists of preamble and 47 articles, resembling Russia's June 19, 2024 agreement with the DPRK, signed in Pyongyang. However, unlike like the earlier agreement, Article 3 of the Russia-Iran agreement does not provide for military assistance between the countries in the event that they face military aggression. The Article states that the parties agree not to provide any assistance to an aggressor, and that they won't allow the use of their territories by separatist movements that threaten the stability and territorial integrity of the other party.

The Iranian side emphasized that the agreement does not seek to create a military alliance (following the statement of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi).[5] President Pezeshkian described the agreement as focused first and foremost on trade and economics. He said: "I am confident that this document was drawn up based on the interests of our countries and will be able to prepare the necessary channel for our further cooperation. Iran and Russia are determined to eliminate small, insignificant obstacles to trade and economic relations."[6] Notably, the provisions of Article 3 are almost identical to those of an earlier Russo-Iranian agreement: "On the Foundations of Relations and Principles of Cooperation" dated March 12, 2001; Article 3 of this older document also outlines obligations not to assist an aggressor.

Russia-Iran Military Cooperation: Joint Exercises, Exchange Of Expertise, Training Personnel

The agreement does, however, provide for military cooperation in the form of joint military exercises, exchange of military and expert delegations, calls of military ships and vessels to the respective parties' ports, training of military personnel, joint participation in international defence exhibitions and sports competitions. Considering that Russia is waging a protracted and exhausting war in eastern Ukraine, it can be assumed that it was the Iranian side that showed restraint in this matter. The Russian political analysis Telegram channel "Boiler room" reached a similar conclusion.[7]

The treaty covers cooperation on a wide range of issues from security to economics. However, it contains few strict obligations – which is not uncommon for program documents. It states that the parties will cooperate in the fight against terrorism and other regional and global threats, coordinate within the framework of international organizations, including the UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and agree to develop mutual trade, industrial cooperation, and business.

"More than just a treaty" graphic (Source: "Eurasian Youth Union" Telegram).[8]

Russian Reactions To The Iran Treaty

Reactions in Russia to the signing of the treaty were varied. Russian state media broadly praised the "historical step" in the two countries' relations. Journalists echoed statements by Russian officials and President Putin, who dubbed the agreement "truly a breakthrough document aimed at creating the necessary conditions for the stable and sustainable development of Russia and Iran."[9]

Prominent Philosopher Dugin: Russia And The New Trump Administration Both Understand That North-South Integration Is The Key To Geopolitical Success

For example, the "Izvestia" newspaper interviewed Middle East expert Artem Tkachev, who said that the treaty is the "most important historic document in Russian-Iranian relations", noting that for the first time since the beginning of the 21st century Moscow is entering a large-scale agreement with Iran.[10] The expert placed the agreement with Iran on par with Russia's treaty with North Korea. The newspaper also focused on the two countries' various economic projects, saying the treaty will contribute to their development – such as the continued of construction of Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, as well as the planned gas pipeline route through Azerbaijan.

Prominent Russian Philosopher Alexander Dugin discussed the treaty on the "Radio Sputnik" Telegram channel, saying: "Before our eyes, a Eurasian military-strategic bloc of sovereign, powerful and developed countries is beginning to take shape. [...] Such an agreement not only adds their potential but multiplies it."[11] Dugin claimed that Moscow will facilitate nuclear protection of the Islamic Republic, while Iran will enable the establishment of Russian military bases in the Indian Ocean – although the agreement doesn't exactly provide for these scenarios.

In another Telegram post, Dugin again praised the agreement, drawing parallels with the plans of the new US administration: "This is the beginning of a new geopolitical century. Quite symmetrical to what Trump is doing in the West. There, too, north-south integration is the key to geopolitical success.[12] Now it is important to continue in the same spirit and increase speed. The Russo-Iranian (Shi'ite) union is taking tangible shape."[13]

Russian Journalist Abbas Djuma: Agreement Indicates That Iran Is Preparing For Confrontation With The U.S.

Journalist Abbas Djuma, formerly of "RIA FAN", wrote on his Telegram channel that by reaching an agreement with Russia, Tehran is preparing for a confrontation with the US.[14] He wrote: "Russia and Iran are in an extremely difficult situation. We have a big war [in Ukraine] at its height, the Iranians are preparing for it. It is unknown what Donald Trump, who has personal scores to settle with Iran, is prepared to do."[15] He continued: "Let me remind you that Iran and Russia are already [engaged] in space [research], both countries possess hypersonic weapons. It cannot be ruled out that sooner or later, Iran, having bypassed all known obstacles, will eventually decide to create nuclear weapons."[16]

Journalist Yulia Yuzik: The Treaty Is About Nothing, Contains Only Generic Words About 'Befriending, Strengthening, And Developing'

Opposing Russian views were voiced on Telegram channels or privately owned media. Russian journalist Yulia Yuzik expresses her doubts about the new treaty: "The propagandists try very hard to pass it off as a geopolitical alliance challenging American supremacy, the existing world order, and other nonsense. In fact, it's a treaty about nothing. There is nothing in it at all, except the generic words 'to befriend, strengthen and develop.'"[17]

The journalist wrote that Iran pushed for the treaty to contain a commitment to fight money laundering. At the same time, Tehran sped up the ratification of FATF bills (Financial Action Task Force), which are required for Iran to be removed from the FATF sanction list (in turn, Moscow's membership in this organization is suspended).[18] Yuzik ended her post: "Pezeshkian, bringing this meaningless folder of papers [...] called on Putin to respect sovereignty, abandon unipolarity, and end the war."[19]

The Agreement Formalizes Existing Russo-Iranian Military Cooperation In Ukraine

The Russian "Military Review" magazine found the agreement useful overall, but noted: "If one is to take a sober look at the formulations, it becomes clear that the agreement fixes the level of Russo-Iranian [cooperation] in the military sphere that was formed during the SVO period [Special Military Operation in Ukraine]. They will not deepen it to [the level of] 'alliance', but no one is going to dismantle what has been done either. This will probably upset those who were expecting an analogue of the DPRK treaty, but will not give extra food for thought to those who perceived the Iranian leader as a Westerner who "has already betrayed Iran."[20]

The political analysis Telegram channel "Meister" reported on the signing in a similarly restrained manner. The channel agreed that the treaty in the essence formalizes the already set level of cooperation between the two countries, noting that the main directions of rapprochement are military industrial complex, nuclear energy and logistics. The channel hoped, however, that the signed partnership agreement will provide an impetus to an "undisclosed partnership" between the two countries: "We've already seen assistance from Iran in terms of UAVs and artillery munitions, but we still have yet to witness the supplies of missiles and 'Arman' air defense systems that Western media have been reporting for years[;] ([these missiles] were supposedly seen ready for loading in the Caspian Sea)."[21]

The Iranian Foreign Ministry also described the agreement as a program document. On January 20, the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic, Esmail Bagai, stated that the agreement between Moscow and Tehran is a "road map for further cooperation" and noted that in order to implement most of the provisions of the agreement, it will be necessary to conclude more detailed agreements in the future.[22]