Russia, Iran set to sign ‘historic’ partnership deal
Russia and Iran have put the finishing touches on a comprehensive cooperation treaty, setting the stage for the signing of this historic document, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said.
“During quite productive consultations between experts from legal and regional departments of the foreign ministries of the two countries held in Moscow on June 21, the text was finalized. According to the results, it was agreed to launch internal procedures necessary to prepare the agreement for signing within the framework of top-level bilateral interaction in the near future,” he said in an interview with TASS.
Rudenko expressed optimism that “this truly historic event” will occur very soon.
“Editing such a serious document, meant to elevate the status of Russian-Iranian ties to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership, has taken almost two and a half years and today it can be considered complete,” the senior diplomat noted.
Earlier, IRNA said that Iranian President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian in a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Tehran was ready to sign the comprehensive cooperation agreement with Moscow at the BRICS summit in Kazan in October.
Details of this agreement have not been released, however, in March, Kazem Jalali, Iran’s ambassador in Moscow, emphasized in an interview with IRNA that “this agreement encompasses broad areas and includes issues of mutual respect and respect for the territorial integrity of both countries.”
He stated that “it should not be assumed that this agreement is secret and private.”
According to Jalali, the text of this agreement will be submitted to the parliaments of both countries in the form of a bill for approval after being ratified by both governments.
In recent years, Iran has established closer ties with Russia and China through its membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). Iran has also signed a comprehensive 25-year agreement with China.