Russian parliament okays partnership treaty with Iran
Russia’s lower house of parliament voted Tuesday to ratify a 20-year strategic partnership to consolidate Moscow-Tehran ties in a wide range of areas.
Containing no military commitments from either side, the agreement covers multiple areas, including economy, transportation, energy, healthcare and agriculture as well as cooperation in the field of common challenges such as organized crimes, and terrorism and dealing with climate change.
“The signing of the treaty does not mean the establishment of a military alliance with Iran or mutual military assistance,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said in an address to the State Duma.
Instead, the treaty states that if either side is subjected to aggression, the other will not provide “assistance to the aggressor.”
“Russia and Iran will not provide military or any other assistance to an aggressor in case either of them comes under attack, and will rely on the UN Charter and other norms of international law to resolve conflicts,” Rudenko said.
“The treaty, which consists of 47 articles, highlights the parties’ intention to interact in the field of foreign policy, to protect state sovereignty and territorial integrity, ensure security and stability; it also determines the principles of developing relations in the trade, economic, scientific, investment and technical fields, as well as in the fields of education, healthcare, sports, culture, tourism and others.”
The comprehensive strategic partnership deal was signed by Presidents Vladimir Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian in January, with votes in Moscow’s parliament necessary before it can come into force.
Putin at the time called it a “breakthrough document,” while Pezeshkian said it would “open a new chapter in relations between Iran and Russia in all fields.”
In 2001, Tehran and Moscow signed a long-term cooperation deal, officially known as the Treaty of the Foundation of Mutual Relations and the Principles of Cooperation. It was initially set for 10 years but was extended twice up until 2026.
Iran and Russia, as two close and strategic allies, have over the past years deepened relations in various fields, despite heavy Western sanctions.