How will the new strategic partnership agreement strengthen relations between Russia and Iran?

RT reported that within the framework of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's official visit to Moscow, Russia and Iran will sign an inter-state treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership.

“The signing of this agreement is a very important part of Pezeshkian’s visit, for us this is a very important event, we attach great importance to it. This agreement will indeed be signed and the leaders will also make statements to the media,” Russian President’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said earlier.

And in comments to Iran's state news agency IRNA, Mr Peskov drew attention to the fact that the deal would not target third countries.

The Kremlin spokesman stated: “The agreement will satisfy the aspirations of the people of two friendly neighboring countries - Russia and Iran, the interaction between the two countries is not aimed at anyone's interests.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also made a similar statement: “This agreement, like the Agreement on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Russia and the DPRK, is not directed against any country, but is constructive in nature and is aimed at strengthening the capabilities of Russia, Iran and our friends around the world, to jointly develop the economy, solve social problems and ensure reliable defense capabilities.”

The preparation of a new bilateral agreement will take several years. It is aimed at updating and supplementing the existing agreement on the fundamental principles of relations and cooperation between Russia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, signed in 2001.

According to Iranian Ambassador to the Russian Federation Kazem Jalali, the new document consists of 47 articles and is signed for a period of 20 years. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stressed that the agreement covers all aspects of cooperation between the two countries. Iran is particularly interested in the economy, science and technology, as well as culture and tourism.

In the economic sphere, one of the main focuses will be the implementation of the North-South international transport corridor project. As noted on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the total length of this route is 7,200 km (from St. Petersburg to the port of Mumbai). It is designed to attract cargo flows from India, Iran and other Persian Gulf countries to Russian territory via the Caspian Sea, with the possibility of subsequent transportation to Northern and Western Europe.

In the Caspian Sea region, the corridor runs along three branches: trans-Caspian, western (through Azerbaijan) and eastern (through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan).

According to observers, the development of this project will shorten logistics routes and simplify transportation. This is a very important corridor that will facilitate transportation, reduce costs and time.

Orientalist and expert of the Russian International Affairs Council, Elena Suponina, calls the development of the North-South corridor an issue of strategic importance for both countries.

“This project has been discussed for many years and has finally been implemented. This is evidenced by the successful construction of a railway section in Iran, which involved Russian experts and investment. It must be taken into account that Iran and Russia are under pressure from Western economic sanctions, which complicates the development of this route,” said Suponina.

In 2024, trade turnover between Russia and Iran increased by 15%. According to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, the new agreement will reinforce the positive trend.

The document will also outline cooperation in the energy sector, Mr Araqchi said.

“Iran and Russia, as two major oil and gas powers, can cooperate in energy production, transmission and export. In addition, the transfer of new technologies in the field of renewable energy from Russia to Iran is one of the important directions of this agreement,” Araqchi said.

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