Russian President Vladimir Putin began Talks with His Iranian Counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, at a Summit on Friday to Sign a New Pact, as the Two Countries brace for the Return of Trump (R) to the White House. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, seeks to Deepen Political and Economic Ties between Russia and Iran, as they grapple with Sanctions Imposed by the U.S. and its Allies.
“It’s important because it allows us to add fresh momentum practically to the whole range of our cooperation,” Putin said in televised Comments at the Start of His Meeting in Moscow with the Iranian President. “We consider our relationship with you essential, sensitive and strategic,” Pezeshkian told Putin. “We stand firm on this path.”
The Treaty will Formalize Commitments to closer Defense Cooperation, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. There won’t be a Mutual-Defense Pledge of the kind included in Russia’s recent Accord with North Korea, Iran’s Ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, told the State-Run Tass News Service on Thursday.
The Two Countries are “in the same trench in the fight against the West,” said Nikolay Kozhanov, a former Russian Diplomat in Iran who’s now an Associate Professor at Qatar University’s Gulf Studies Center. “It is not the treaty itself that is important, but the timing. Putin and Pezeshkian need to understand how they can stand up to Trump.”
Talks will focus on Development of Transit corridors for Trade via Central Asia, the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus, as well as on Energy Negotiations, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Iran wants to become an Energy Hub for Russian Gas, though there’s Little Sign so far of Progress on the Project.
Russia and Iran have drawn Closer since Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine in 202, triggered sweeping Sanctions and Moscow’s most serious Confrontation with the West since the Cold War. Russia is building a Trade Route with Tehran connecting to India, to try to Weaken the Iimpact of Sanctions, and Officials have discussed boosting Financial and Banking Co-Operation, as Moscow seeks to learn from Tehran’s experience of Ddecades in Isolation.
“Russia was previously cautious about describing ties with Iran as ‘strategic’ to avoid antagonizing key regional players like Saudi Arabia, Israel, the UAE, and even the West,” said Nicole Grajewski, who focuses on Russia and Iran as a Fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Now, “Russia is reliant on Iran for its war,” She said.
Trump, who takes Office on Monday, has Vowed to bring a Swift End to the War in Ukraine, though it’s Unclear how He’ll achieve a Settlement between Moscow and Kyiv. His pick for National Security Adviser, has threatened a Return to the “maximum pressure” Policy toward Iran that Trump Adopted in His First Term as President. Still, Trump has also suggested He wants to Stabilize the Relationship with Tehran.
Iran has supplied Russia with Hundreds of Attack Drones since the Start of the War, that have been used to Strike Ukraine, and has also sent Ballistic Missiles to Aid Putin, according to the U.S. and European Nations. Tehran Denies Shipping Weapons to Russia.
Iran is seeking Russia’s S-400 Advanced Air-Defense system, to try to better Protect Assets including its Nuclear Facilities against Attack. It’s also asking Russia to provide Sukhoi Su-35 Fighter Jets to help Transform an Aging Iranian Air Force that’s been Sanctioned for Decades.
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