Iran’s parliament on Wednesday approved a 20-year strategic partnership agreement between Moscow and Tehran, state media reported. The agreement signifies a deepening of bilateral ties, including closer defense cooperation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, signed the strategic partnership document on January 17.
The Russian legislative branch approved the pact in April. While the agreement does not include a mutual defense clause, it states that both countries will collaborate against common military threats, develop their military-technical cooperation, and participate in joint exercises.
Since the onset of the war in Ukraine in 2022, Iran and Russia have strengthened military ties, with Western countries accusing Iran of supplying missiles and drones for Russian attacks on Ukraine. Tehran denies providing weapons for Russian use in Ukraine.
The strategic pact also incorporates several clauses aimed at bolstering economic partnership, particularly by strengthening direct interbank cooperation and promoting their national financial products.
A free trade deal between Iran and the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union came into effect last week, reducing tariffs to boost trade between the two economies, both of which are currently under heavy Western sanctions.
