Russia and Iran signed a cooperation agreement amid tensions with the West

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, signed a law on April 21 that ratifies a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with Iran, further consolidating the ties between both countries amid growing tensions with the West.

The signing of this law concludes the Russian legislative process, which included the approval of the treaty by the State Duma on April 8 and its subsequent endorsement by the Federation Council on April 16.

The treaty, designed for a duration of 20 years, was initially signed on January 17 during a summit between Putin and Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, in Russia. Both leaders emphasized their intention to strengthen cooperation in key areas such as trade, defense, energy, and regional infrastructure.

The Kremlin has indicated that the agreement seeks to strengthen bilateral relations in strategic sectors such as investment, transportation, logistics, and humanitarian collaboration. Additionally, it addresses regional and global geopolitical issues affecting both nations.

One of the most significant elements of the treaty is the clause in which Russia and Iran commit to not providing assistance to third countries involved in military conflicts against the other.

This provision underscores a closer alignment between Moscow and Tehran in the face of perceived external threats, especially in the context of political and economic pressures from the United States and its allies.

Relations between Russia and Iran have experienced a notable rapprochement since the escalation of the war between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022. Iran has been a key supplier of military equipment to Moscow, providing thousands of Shahed drones that have been used in attacks against Ukrainian infrastructure.

Additionally, it has sent short-range ballistic missiles, while Russia has begun producing its own versions of the Iranian drones, locally known as Geran-2, with Iranian technical assistance.

The strengthening of the Moscow-Tehran axis is part of a broader Russian strategy to diversify its geopolitical alliances in the face of international isolation driven by Western sanctions.

In this context, the ratification of the agreement with Iran adds to another important step taken by Putin in June 2024, when he signed a military cooperation treaty with North Korea.

That pact included clauses of mutual support in case of conflict and has resulted in the deployment, according to reports, of up to 12,000 North Korean soldiers to the Russian region of Kursk to help in the defense against cross-border Ukrainian incursions.

From the perspective of Russian and Iranian officials, these pacts represent a strategic response to what they consider a growing threat from the Western bloc.

The cooperation between Moscow and Tehran is not limited to the military sphere, but also encompasses ambitious joint projects in regional infrastructure, energy, and transportation that seek to consolidate their influence in Central Asia and the Middle East.