After a series of discussions in St Petersburg and Tehran, Russian President Vladimir Putin has given green light for the signing of a comprehensive partnership agreement with Iran. The deal, reflecting the “strategic” rapport between the two nations, is deemed by Putin as “beneficial” and is set to be ratified at the highest level.
The Russian-Iranian agreement, mirroring the one signed between China and Iran in 2021, outlines a 20-year plan for political, defensive, regional, and international cooperation, as reported by Iran’s Press TV.
Rumours of a disagreement over lucrative trade routes in the South Caucasus between Moscow and Tehran appear to have been put aside with this deal, as per Amwaj.media. There are future discussions planned between the presidents of Russia and Iran at the Brics summit, kicking off in the Russian city of Kazan on October 22nd.
There are anticipations that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will travel to Russia next month for the pact signing. Amwaj.media speculates that this may pose a hurdle in his attempts to mend relations with the West and re-energise the 2015 agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear ambitions, coupled with the lifting of crushing economic sanctions.
Meanwhile, accusations from Washington and Kyiv imply that Iran has been supplying Russia with ballistic missiles and attack drones, which are allegedly targeted at military and civilian sites in Ukraine.
Despite denying these allegations, Iran showcased its newly developed Jihad missiles and Shahed drones at a military pageantry on Saturday. In his statement, Mr Pezeshkian emphasised the enhanced defensive and deterrence capabilities of Iran, adding that no entity would consider aggression against Iran. He also emphasised the need for unity amongst Muslim countries to resist Israel’s regional advances.
Reuters has reported that unnamed officials from Europe and the United States have claimed that Iran has supplied Russia with Fath-360 guided missiles, which are short-range tactical weapons with a distance of 121km. However, they have allegedly not provided the required launchers, rendering the missiles non-operational. A European representative suggested that Iran is unlikely to supply the launchers. Additionally, Reuters mentioned that two officials proposed that Russia could either alter lorries for missile launch or that Iran could defuse Western tension by ceasing the deliveries.
Earlier this month, American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, advanced the idea that the Fath-360 missile could be utilised for firing at close range frontlines, thus allowing Russia to save its wide-ranging, long-distance missile arsenal for more far-off targets.
In reaction to these shipments from Iran transported via cargo ships, the United States has imposed sanctions on six entities and ten individuals, located in Russia and Iran. These include Iran’s national airline, Iran Air. In concert with the US action, flights by Iran Air have been suspended by Britain, France, and Germany.
Nevertheless, these allegations have been rebuffed by Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi. He suggested that those “addicted to sanctions” should review the efficacy of such restrictions, as they haven’t hindered Iran’s capability to develop sophisticated weaponry.