The Iranian parliament approves a 20-year strategic partnership agreement with Russia.

The Iranian parliament approved yesterday a 20-year strategic partnership agreement with Russia, marking an important step towards enhancing bilateral relations, including defense cooperation. Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed this agreement with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Bazkian on January 17, with the Russian parliament approving it in April. Following the vote in the Iranian parliament, 191 deputies (equivalent to 90% of the members) approved the agreement, while 8 deputies opposed it. Although the agreement does not include a provision for joint defense, it focuses on enhancing cooperation in military and technological fields, as well as conducting joint military exercises. Iranian-Russian movements accelerated after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022, with Western countries accusing Iran of supplying Russia with missiles and drones used in the war, a claim Tehran denies. In addition to military cooperation, the agreement includes clauses aimed at enhancing economic partnership, especially in the financial sector, by strengthening cooperation between banks and promoting the use of shared financial services. In an additional step to expand trade cooperation, the free trade agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union, led by Russia, entered into force last week, contributing to reducing customs duties between the two parties, thereby boosting trade between the two countries suffering from Western sanctions.