A comprehensive strategic partnership treaty was signed between the Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, and the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, in Moscow on January 17, 2025. It succeeds the comprehensive agreement signed between the two countries in 2001, which expired in 2021. The new treaty will be in force for 20 years and consists of 47 articles covering a wide range of issues such as security, energy, trade, investment, and culture.
According to the Iranian Ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, a new treaty was needed due to the expanded relations between the two countries since the last treaty was signed. While much has changed over the last two decades, recent developments in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and domestic political developments in the United States make this treaty even more germane.
For Russia, the war against Ukraine has made it vulnerable to actions—military and otherwise—by the West. Its use of Shahed drones, made and supplied by Iran, and the participation of North Korean soldiers demonstrate the significant toll the war has taken on Russia. Russia's influence in the Middle East has also diminished due to the toppling of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria—a country where Russia committed a substantial amount of its military assets.
Furthermore, the sanctions imposed by the West on the Russian economy have created significant problems. The role of the United States under the Biden administration and the uncertain trajectory of Russia-United States relations, notwithstanding the election of Trump as President, necessitate greater room for manoeuvre for Russia.
As for Iran, Trump's comeback is bad news. The last time he was in power, he followed the "maximum pressure" policy on Tehran, which meant imposing harsh economic sanctions and unilaterally withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) dealing with Iran's nuclear program. It is anticipated that Trump may adopt an even harsher stance on Iran.
Israel's recent gains against Hamas and Hezbollah, coupled with Trump's return to power, present a challenging scenario for Iranian policymakers. The collapse of the Al-Assad regime in Syria further undermines Iran's regional investments. With a weakened position in the Middle East and the prospect of an unpredictable U.S., Iran must strengthen its diplomatic and political strategies.
The treaty enables the two countries to build on mutual interests and thwart threats to their sovereignty and strategic interests. It emphasizes the need for a "new just and sustainable multipolar world order based on the sovereign equality of states,” rejecting "unipolarity and hegemony in world affairs."
On the security front, the two countries underline the need to counter military and security threats, undertake military exchange and training, conduct joint military exercises, and cooperate on the intelligence front.
On the trade and economic front, they aim to develop a modern payment infrastructure independent of third states and to strengthen interbank cooperation. The treaty also focuses on promoting energy security, the peaceful use of nuclear energy, constructing nuclear energy facilities, and cooperation in the oil and gas sectors. Additionally, it underscores the need for the mass media of both countries to work together to jointly oppose disinformation and negative propaganda.
The underlining in the treaty of the need to be respectful of each other’s sovereign rights and territorial integrity is relevant in the context of regional politics. The three islands of Abu Musa, Greater and Lesser Tunbs have seen Iran and the UAE spar over who has rightful ownership of these territories, in a dispute that dates to the 1970s.
In recent times, Russia has been seen by Iran as endorsing the UAE’s claim over these islands. In 2023, the Russian Ambassador to Iran was summoned by the Iranian authorities to express their displeasure. In an interview just before the signing of the new treaty, Ambassador Jalali stated that Iran expects “partner countries” to respect Iranian territorial integrity. He pointed out that the new treaty includes the need to uphold sovereign rights and territorial integrity, something which was absent from the 2001 treaty between the two countries. Notwithstanding Iran’s expectation from Russia on the issue, one cannot disregard the uptick in relations between Russia and the UAE in recent times and the imperative for Russia to balance its relations among the different players in the region.
This becomes apparent when one looks at the enhanced bilateral trade figures. Russian agricultural products, gold, precious stones, oil and oil products have found their way to the UAE markets. For the year 2022, Russia’s exports to the UAE stood at USD 8.07 billion of which gold accounted for 66 per cent of the total value of exports. In 2019, Russia’s exports to the UAE had stood at USD 2.47 billion. Russia’s relations with Saudi Arabia are another dimension that would test the provisions of the treaty in the coming times.
Dr Nabarun Roy
The author is an Assistant Professor in the Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social Sciences at the South Asian University, New Delhi.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
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