Persian Fire
Persian Fire
Russia-Iran Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement. Putin meets Masoud Pezeshkian in Turkmenistan, Moscow and Tehran actively cooperate with each other in the international arena
Russia's Putin, new Iranian President Pezeshkian hold first in person meeting in Turkmenistan
Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted on Friday the importance of relations with Iran during his first meeting with the Islamic republic's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
The meeting was on the sidelines of the Interrelation of Times and Civilizations – Basis of Peace and Development international forum, which commemorated the 300th anniversary of the esteemed Turkmen poet and philosopher Magtymguly Pyragy.
"Relations with Iran are a priority for us, and they are progressing very successfully," Putin said.
He remarked that trade turnover between the two countries has grown this year, following a decline last year, and noted the positive overall trend.
Putin emphasized the alignment between Russia and Iran on various international issues, pointing out that both nations often share similar perspectives on global events.
He also congratulated Iran on becoming a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, and invited Pezeshkian to the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan on Oct. 23-24, where another bilateral meeting is planned.
Pezeshkian agreed that relations between the two nations are improving across cultural, economic, and social domains, and acknowledged that the supreme leader of Iran encourages the strengthening of these ties.
"Our principles and international positions align closely with yours, and I am hopeful that our country will soon become a full member of BRICS as well," he added.
Pezeshkian was elected as Iran's new president in July after his predesessor, Ebrahim Raisi, died in a helicopter crash.
In a separate statement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin also met briefly with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, during which the two leaders exchanged invitations to visit their respective countries on official visits. Both leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral ties in all areas.
According to Peskov, Putin also met with Numan Kurtulmus, speaker of the Turkish Grand Assembly, and they "briefly exchanged views in continuation of the conversations that we had recently in Moscow."
Putin said he is looking forward to meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the BRICS summit in Kazan on October 22-24.
On September 25, Putin and Kurtulmus met in Moscow as part of the Turkish parliament speaker's official visit.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/russias-putin-new-iranian-president-pezeshkian-hold-first-in-person-meeting-in-turkmenistan/3358965
Russia signals upcoming signing of strategic partnership accord with Iran
Russia’s president has authorised the signing of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement with Iran. This follows a Tehran visit by the secretary of the Russian Security Council, preceded by a trip to St. Petersburg by the Iranian national security advisor. The intensified engagement suggests that the two sides wish to move past a row over Moscow’s support for a contentious transit corridor in the South Caucasus, especially amid western pressure over alleged Iranian missile deliveries to Russia.
The exchange of visits also serves as a scene-setter for Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s upcoming trip to Russia next month, when some now speculate that the much-touted cooperation agreement will be signed.
The coverage: President Vladimir Putin on Sept. 19 approved the signing of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement with Tehran, reportedly describing it as “expedient” and to be signed "at the highest level."
The announcement follows a Sept. 17 trip to Tehran by Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, who held talks with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Ahmadian and President Pezeshkian.
"Our goal is to cultivate a partnership that not only withstands external challenges but also flourishes in a spirit of mutual respect and collaboration," Pezeshkian stated, adding that cooperation can deflect sanctions imposed on both Moscow and Tehran.
On his part, Shoigu conveyed a message from Putin and said the Russian president is eager to host his Iranian counterpart in Kazan. In a meeting with Ahmadian, Shoigu also reportedly expressed support for “corridors” in relation to Azerbaijan.
Only days earlier, on Sept. 12, Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Ahmadian held a private meeting with Putin and Shoigu in St. Petersburg.
Ahmadian was visiting Russia to attend a gathering of security chiefs of member states of the BRICS group of emerging economies.
According to Iranian media, Putin hailed the “strategic” relations between Tehran and Moscow, which he said had grown stronger in recent years.
The Russian leader added that he would be holding a private meeting with Pezeshkian, who is expected to travel to Kazan in October to attend a BRICS summit hosted by Putin.
Ahmadian said cooperation between Iran and Russia would continue to develop under Pezeshkian, who took office in late July.
Nour News, affiliated with former national security advisor Ali Shamkhani—now a political aide to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—said Ahmadian and Putin also discussed the signing of a highly advertised multi-year cooperation agreement.
The website said Putin and Ahmadian emphasized that the agreement would be signed in the “near future” by the Iranian and Russian presidents.
Nour News concluded that Ahmadian’s meeting and Putin’s comments could be seen as an “important step” toward mending “recent misunderstandings”—an apparent reference to Tehran’s criticism of Moscow over its backing of a contentious Azerbaijani transit endeavor that would traverse Iran’s land border with Armenia.
The missile debacle: Ahmadian’s trip to St. Petersburg came against the backdrop of western pressure on Iran over its alleged transfer of short-range ballistic missiles to Russia—a charge that Tehran has strongly denied.
The US on Sept. 10 sanctioned 10 individuals and six entities based in Russia and Iran over the suspected arms deliveries, including national carrier Iran Air.
Britain, France, and Germany—a European trio known as the E3—canceled bilateral air services arrangements with Tehran, restricting Iran Air’s ability to fly to the UK. Meanwhile, Germany said it would “work towards” imposing sanctions on Iran Air with its E3 partners, without offering specifics.
Separately, the Netherlands and Britain on Sept. 11 summoned Iran’s envoys to protest the alleged missile deliveries.
The following day, Iran reciprocated the move by summoning the highest-ranking diplomats of E3 and the Netherlands in Iran.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sept. 11 again denied that Iran had supplied ballistic missiles to Russia and criticized western sanctions on his country.
The top diplomat asserted that sanctions are “not a solution, but part of [the] problem.” He added, “Sanction addicts should ask themselves: how is Iran able to make and supposedly sell sophisticated arms?”
Separately, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani on Sept. 12 referenced Britain’s announcement that it will supply Ukraine with more weapons and charged, “Wherever there is a war, the US and Britain are directly or indirectly involved.”
The context/analysis: Relations between Moscow and Tehran have deepened considerably since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Feb. 2022.
Cooperation between the two countries has become particularly pronounced in the military domain. Iran has supplied drones to Russia, which have reportedly been deployed against Ukraine. Additionally, Iran is believed to be supporting Russia's efforts to localize drone production.
Western governments say Iran has expanded alleged support for Russia by delivering ballistic missiles. Tehran has maintained that it does not take sides in the Ukraine war and has rejected reports that it is arming Moscow.
UN sanctions restricting Iran's imports and exports of drones and missiles with ranges of 300 km (186 miles) or more expired in Oct. 2023. The Iranian missiles currently under scrutiny, the Fath-360, are reported to have a range of up to 120 km (75 miles).
Earlier this month, relations between Iran and Russia experienced their first major flare-up in months after Moscow appeared to support the controversial Zangazur Corridor. The transit route links Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave through southern Armenia.
The corridor would run along Iran’s short 42 km (26 miles) border with Armenia, which Tehran insists will cut its land link with its northwestern neighbor.
Tehran summoned Russia’s ambassador on Sept. 2 to express its opposition to any geopolitical changes in the South Caucasus.
Although cooperation has increased overall, several obstacles persist, including the finalization of a comprehensive 20-year cooperation agreement.
The accord would succeed the 10-year cooperation treaty signed in 2001, which has since been extended for five-year terms—most recently in 2021.
Notably, Russia temporarily paused talks on the agreement in June, attributing the suspension to “problems that our Iranian partners have.”
Despite Iran’s alleged arms transfers to Russia, it has yet to receive key military hardware that it has long desired.
For years, there have been speculations that Russia may deliver up to two dozen Sukhoi-35 (Su-35) fighter jets and Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters to Iran.
Reports emerged in Sept. 2023 that Yak-130 combat trainers were transferred to Iran amid rumors that an air base may have been prepared for the arrival of Su-35s.
The future: The expansion of relations between Iran and Russia shows no signs of slowing down, and Pezeshkian’s trip to Kazan next month could further solidify their partnership.
However, Iran’s Reformist president finds himself in a difficult position: Growing relations with Russia, especially in the military sphere, will please conservative constituencies in the power structure in Tehran.
At the same time, moving closer to Moscow may jeopardize Pezeshkian’s stated goal of engaging the west. This includes potential talks in the future on Iran’s contentious nuclear program. Iran may also be hit with more sanctions if Russia begins deploying any missiles allegedly provided by Tehran.
https://amwaj.media/media-monitor/russia-signals-upcoming-signing-of-strategic-partnership-accord-with-iran
Putin Parley’s with Iran’s Pezeshkian
The face-to-face in Turkmenistan between the Russian president and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, took place as Iran braces for a potential retaliatory strike from Israel.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Friday, in their first face-to-face meeting since Pezeshkian’s election in late July.
During the meeting on the sidelines of an international forum of Central Asian leaders, Putin hailed Russia’s relations with Iran as "sincere and strategic."
"Relations with Iran are a priority for us," Putin told Pezeshkian, as reported by RIA Novosti, the Russian state-owned news agency. He also described Iran and Russia’s positions on international developments as “very close.”
"Moscow and Tehran actively cooperate with each other in the international arena and often agree on their assessments of world events," he said.
Pezeshkian made similar remarks, saying, “Our positions in the world are much closer to each other than other countries,” according to the Iranian state-run Press TV.
Speaking on regional developments, Pezeshkian condemned Israeli military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, warning, “The situation in the region is critical.”
Putin extended an invitation for Pezeshkian to attend the upcoming BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan Oct. 23–24, congratulating Iran on becoming a full member of the bloc last year.
The Turkmenistan meeting coincides with seemingly growing tensions in the Middle East, amid a potential Israeli reprisal for Iran’s ballistic missile attack against Israel earlier this month.
On Oct. 1, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched some 180 ballistic missiles at Israel — the second such attack this year — in what Tehran said was a response to Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallahand the IRGC's Quds Force deputy commander, Abbas Nilforoushan, in a strike in Beirut's southern suburbs on Sept. 27, as well as the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to respond to the attack. “Iran made a big mistake tonight — and it will pay for it,” Netanyahu said in a statement shortly after the attack.
Meanwhile, Russia, which has forged strong military relations with Iran in the past few years, warned Friday against an Israeli strike on Iranian civilian nuclear facilities, saying it would amount to a "serious provocation." Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference in Laos today that the International Atomic Energy Agency has found no indications of Iran having begun to transform its nuclear program into a military one.
“If any plans or threats to attack the Islamic Republic of Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities are realized, it would indeed be a very serious provocation,” he stressed.
Moscow and Tehran have strengthened military and economic ties in the face of sanctions imposed on them by the West and by their growing political isolation since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In a $1.7 billion deal signed in late 2022, Iran agreed to supply Russia with hundreds of drones, for its offensive against Ukraine.
Washington recently confirmed Russia taking delivery of advanced weaponry from Iran. Speaking at a press conference in London Sept. 10, Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Tehran of sending short-range ballistic missiles to Moscow to be used in its war in Ukraine. His remarks coincided with fresh US sanctions imposed on ships and companies allegedly involved in the transfer of weapons from Iran to Russia.
Meanwhile, Iran finalized a deal last November to procure Sukhoi SU-35 fighters, Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters, and Yak-130 jet trainers, Iranian Deputy Defense Minister Mahdi Farahi announced at the time. The Yak-130s have been delivered, according to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, but it remains unclear whether any of the other aircraft have as well. Iranian officials had denied reports in April claiming imminent delivery of new Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets.
Reports also emerged in August about alleged Russian arms shipments being delivered to Iran. The New York Times cited Iranian officials at the time as saying that Russia had begun to transfer advanced radar and air defense equipment to Tehran following a request made to the Kremlin.
The governments in Tehran and Moscow did not issue comments on the report at the time.
Relations between Iran and Russia have also deepened at the political level. Iranian and Russian officials have exchanged several visits in recent years. Most prominently, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov traveled to Tehran on Oct. 23, 2023, two weeks after Hamas launched its attack on Israel. According to a Foreign Ministry press release, Lavrov met with then-President Ebrahim Raisi and then-Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and stressed the need for a cease-fire in Gaza. They also rejected the West’s "illegitimate unilateral sanctions," which the Foreign Ministry said undermined the global economy.
More recently, on Sept. 30, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin arrived in the Iranian capital for an official visit, during which he held talks with Pezeshkian on ways to boost bilateral cooperation.
Also, two high-ranking Russian officials who are also aides to President Putin were in Tehran on Sept. 17 to discuss bilateral cooperation. The International North-South Transport Corridor, a key cross-regional infrastructure project aimed at facilitating trade connectivity between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe, was at the center of the discussions.
Putin, in his first trip abroad after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, visited Iran, in July 2022.
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2024/10/russias-putin-holds-first-meeting-irans-pezeshkian-what-we-know
Putin plans to hold talks with Iranian president at BRICS summit in Kazan
The summit in Kazan on October 22-24 will be the keystone event for BRICS in 2024
ASHGABAD, October 11. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that he intends to hold talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at October's BRICS summit in Kazan.
During a meeting with Pezeshkian in Ashgabad, Putin said he was looking forward to seeing the Iranian president at the summit in Kazan.
"We are scheduled to have a bilateral meeting there as well," the Russian president added.
BRICS was founded by Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2006. In 2011, South Africa joined the organization. On January 1, 2024, Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia became full-fledged members of the BRICS association. This year, Russia holds the rotating chair in the association. The summit in Kazan on October 22-24 will be the keystone event for BRICS in 2024.