The Iranian parliament on Wednesday, the 21st of May, approved a strategic partnership between Moscow and Tehran for the next 20 years, state media reported. The agreement means a strengthening of bilateral relations, including closer defence cooperation, according to Reuters.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian signed the strategic partnership document on the 17th of January.
Russian lawmakers approved the pact in April. Although the agreement does not include a mutual defence clause, it states that the two countries will cooperate against common military threats, develop military-technical cooperation and participate in joint exercises.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Iran and Russia have deepened military ties, with Western countries accusing Iran of supplying missiles and drones for Russia’s attacks on Ukraine. Tehran denies that it has supplied weapons to Russia in Ukraine.
The strategic pact also includes a number of points aimed at promoting economic partnership, in particular by strengthening direct inter-bank cooperation and promoting the countries’ financial products.
Last week, a free trade agreement between Iran and the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union entered into force, which reduces tariffs to boost trade between the two countries, both of which are under strict Western sanctions.