The issue:

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a bilateral strategic partnership agreement in Moscow on January 17, 2025. The signing of the deal also underscores Russia and Iran’s deepening ties against the backdrop of Western sanctions and pressures, highlighting an increasingly strengthening partnership bolstered by shared goals and common challenges.

At a joint news conference after signing it, the leaders stressed that both sides are focused on deepening cooperation with each other inields of politics, security, trade, transport, and energy. The partnership is notable especially amid tensions with the United States, which has sanctioned both countries — Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and Iran over its nuclear program and support for militant groups in the Middle East.

Insights:

The core of the strategic pact is an agreement on mutual defense, in which both countries can not provide assistance to the aggressor in case of attack on either side. The stipulation highlights the increasingly close military partnership between Moscow and Tehran, especially in Syria, where they have backed the Assad regime against a range of opposition forces.

Putin also emphasized plans to deliver natural gas to Iran, with bilateral supplies potentially amounting to 55 billion cubic meters per year. Yet, he admitted some inertia in getting nuclear power up and running in Iran, noting that talks are in the works for additional construction to make up for the delays. It reflects the energy strategy that both nations intend to promote in such an environment dealing with their economic dilemmas.

During the press conference, Pezeshkian said he wants a negotiated end to the continuing conflict in Ukraine and for Western countries to respect the security interests of other nations. His comments are couched in a broader sentiment on both sides to try and find stability in a region long targeted for outside meddling.

There’s great significance to the timing of this agreement, occurring just days ahead of Donald Trump’s expected return back to the White House. Analysts say the drawup of the agreement comes as a bilateral response both to fears that the U.S. may shift its focus to reconstruction efforts in Ukraine amid the conflict and increase pressures on countries including Iran, or to fears that Washington could further expand its sanctions policy against the Islamic Republic.

Pezeshkian and his entourage waited around one hour since Putin was late for a meeting. This development, described as deliberate psychological warfare emanating from Putin, highlights the nuances of international diplomacy and how certain gestures and timing still matter.

Opinion:

It highlights the increase of relations between Russia and Iran under similar geopolitical conditions and external threats against both sides. With U.S. relations with China, Turkey and Iran growing ever closer, both countries are using this opportunity to strengthen ties for mutual economic and security needs that will reverberate across the Middle East and in fact the world.