Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin convened in Moscow to sign a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, laying the groundwork for enhanced cooperation across trade, energy, education, and transport sectors. The agreement, years in the making, signifies a robust commitment to strengthening bilateral ties amid evolving regional and global dynamics.
Welcoming the Iranian delegation to the Kremlin, President Putin emphasized the historic nature of the treaty, noting its potential to boost collaboration across virtually all spheres of interaction. “We have been working on this agreement for a long time, and I am pleased that it is now finalized,” Putin said. “It will provide an additional boost to almost all areas of our cooperation, including trade, energy, and cultural exchanges.”
Putin highlighted the continued growth in trade between the two nations, which increased by 15.5% in the first ten months of last year, and celebrated the progress in joint projects, particularly in nuclear energy and logistics. He also expressed optimism about the burgeoning cultural relationship, pointing to the upcoming “Days of Russian Culture” in Iran as an example of strengthening ties.
President Pezeshkian, accompanied by a high-ranking delegation, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that bilateral relations with Russia are of “strategic importance” and calling the agreement a “solid foundation for future progress.” Addressing earlier delays in joint projects, he reassured his counterpart that “all problems on our side have been addressed,” paving the way for the finalization of nuclear energy agreements and other collaborative initiatives.
During the meeting, the Russian delegation included key figures such as Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister and Special Representative for the North-South Transport Corridor Vitaly Savelyev, and Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev. President Putin extended his personal regards to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, acknowledging the Supreme Leader’s involvement in fostering Russian-Iranian ties.
Pezeshkian noted that the Supreme Leader had stressed the importance of deepening relations with Russia ahead of the visit and reiterated Iran’s stance on regional autonomy. “We believe regional problems must be resolved through agreements among regional parties. External forces only exacerbate instability,” he stated.
The leaders also discussed regional and international issues, including developments in Syria and the recent Gaza ceasefire, underlining their shared vision for a more stable and cooperative region.
