Iran's parliament has approved a 20-year strategic partnership with Russia, reports "Reuters". The agreement marks a significant deepening of bilateral relations, including closer cooperation in the field of defense, reports News.bg.
The strategic partnership document was signed on January 17 by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian. The Russian parliament ratified the agreement in April.
Although it does not include a mutual defense clause, the two countries commit to cooperating against common military threats, developing their military-technical cooperation and conducting joint exercises.
After the war in Ukraine began in 2022, Iran and Russia have significantly deepened their military ties. Western countries accuse Tehran of providing missiles and drones for Russian attacks on Ukraine, but Iranian authorities deny supplying weapons for military action.
The strategic partnership also includes economic clauses aimed at boosting trade and financial cooperation. These include strengthening direct interbank links and encouraging the use of national currencies and financial products.
A free trade agreement between Iran and the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union also entered into force last week. It provides for tariff reductions to boost trade between the two sanctioned economies.