Russia’s upper house of parliament on Wednesday ratified a key strategic partnership deal signed between Moscow and Tehran earlier this year, amid fears of conflict between Iran and the U.S.
The agreement’s ratification was announced in a statement by Russia’s Federation Council, following a plenary meeting of the upper house of parliament in Moscow.
According to the statement, the 20-year deal, which was concluded with the possibility of automatic extension for subsequent five-year periods, aims to deepen and expand cooperation between Russia and Iran in a wide range of areas, most notably defence.
“In accordance with it, Russia and Iran seek to deepen and expand relations in all areas of mutual interest, strengthen cooperation in the fields of security and defence, and closely coordinate activities at regional and global levels,” it further stated.
The statement also said that the deal covers areas including arms control, the fight against international terrorism, and further cooperation in sectors such as peaceful nuclear energy.
The agreement also stipulates that if either side is subjected to aggression, the other will not provide “assistance to the aggressor.”
It went on to say that Federation Council chairwoman Valentina Matviyenko instructed authorities to monitor the process of the deal’s ratification by the Iranian side.
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Iran will now be under pressure to ratify the deal through its parliament amid fears of an attack from the United States or Israel.
On 17 January, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a 20-year comprehensive strategic partnership agreement in Moscow.
The State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, ratified the deal on 8 April.
President Vladimir Putin of Russia and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the agreement in Moscow in January. Putin submitted it to the State Duma in March.
Looming threat of war
Tensions between Tehran and Washington are running sky high with a very real threat of a full scale war between Iran and America seeming very possible.
The two nations stand firmly on either side of the Israel-Palestine conflict with America providing unwavering support to Israel during the genocide in Gaza.
Upon Donald Trump’s return to power in the White House, threats of a direct attack on Iran have returned to the forefront.
Trump and Israel are threatening Iran over their support for Hamas and other Muslim armed groups in the region which form part of the “Axis of Resistance.”
The signing of the Russia-Iran agreement will make any decision by Washington to attack Iran more complicated as any Russian response could have global implications.
Indirect talks between Iran and the U.S. are currently underway with Oman acting as a mediator in a final bid to avert a war.
President Donald Trump spoke on Tuesday with the Sultan of Oman about the next round of Iran talks scheduled for Saturday in Oman, the White House said.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Trump’s bottom line in the talks, which included an initial session last Saturday, is he wanted to use negotiations to ensure Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.
Trump and Omani leader Haitham bin Tariq al-Said also discussed ongoing U.S. operations against Yemen’s Houthis, she said.
“The maximum pressure campaign on Iran continues,” Leavitt said at a press briefing. “The president has made it clear he wants to see dialogue and discussion with Iran, while making his directive about Iran never being able to obtain a nuclear weapon quite clear.”
She added that he had “emphasised” this directive during the call with Sultan Haitham.
Both sides described last weekend’s U.S.-Iran talks in Oman as positive but major sticking points remain.
