Russia, Iran set to sign strategic partnership treaty

A comprehensive strategic partnership treaty between Russia and Iran will be signed during an official visit of Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian to Moscow, according to Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali.

“This agreement was ready to be signed in Kazan [during the October 22-24 BRICS summit], but the two presidents agreed at a meeting in Ashgabat that it would be concluded during bilateral visits. In this regard, [Russian leader] Mr. [Vladimir] Putin invited Pezeshkian to visit Moscow,” Jalali said in an interview with Lebanese media, Caliber.Az reports via TASS.

According to the ambassador, the new agreement will cover all spheres of bilateral cooperation.

Earlier, on October 11, the Russian and Iranian presidents held talks in Ashgabat, where Pezeshkian expressed hope that the strategic treaty would be signed at the BRICS summit. Putin approved the draft treaty on September 18, and Iran’s ambassador to Russia confirmed on October 4 that the document was ready for signing.

The BRICS association, initially founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, expanded in 2011 to include South Africa. Starting January 1, 2024, Egypt, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia will join as full members. This year, Russia is chairing the group, with the upcoming summit in Kazan being a significant event. Putin said that he plans a bilateral meeting with Pezeshkian on the margins of the summit.

By Tamilla Hasanova