Putin ratifies 20-year strategic partnership agreement with Iran

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a law ratifying a strategic partnership agreement between Moscow and Tehran, initially signed between the two countries earlier this year, according to Russian state news agency RIA.

This comes after the Federation Council, Russia’s upper house of parliament, approved the deal during its April 16 session. The State Duma, the lower house, had ratified it earlier on April 8.

According to the statement issued after being approved by the upper house, 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.

“In accordance with it, Russia and Iran seek to deepen and expand relations in all areas of mutual interest, strengthen cooperation in the field of security and defence, and closely coordinate activities at the regional and global levels,” the statement added.

The statement also said that the deal covers areas including arms control, the fight against international terrorism, as well as further cooperation in sectors such as trade, banking, transport, energy, and peaceful nuclear energy.

On January 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a 20-year comprehensive strategic partnership agreement in Moscow.

At a press conference following the signing, Putin said the agreement serves as a roadmap for strengthening long-term cooperation between Moscow and Tehran across multiple sectors, including trade and investment.

“And this truly breakthrough document is aimed at creating the necessary conditions for the stable and sustainable development of Russia and Iran, and our entire common Eurasian region,” he added.

With inputs from agencies