Summary
- Putin invites Pezeshkian to Russia for official visit
- Iran and Russia close to signing strategic treaty
- US concerned over closer Iran-Russia ties
- Washington accuses Iran of supplying missiles to Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, held a high-profile meeting at a regional summit on Friday in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, as the two leaders deepened their alliance amid mounting tensions with the West.
The meeting comes as Israel readies its response to Tehran’s largest-ever missile strike last week, further intensifying the Middle East’s volatile climate.
In recent years, Iran and Russia have grown closer militarily, particularly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Iran reportedly has supplied Russia with thousands of ‘Shahed’ drones and, according to U.S. officials, constructed a drone factory within Russian borders. Iran has allegedly also transferred short-range ballistic missiles to bolster Russia’s ongoing war effort in Ukraine.
Putin, who has positioned Russia in opposition to the U.S. and European Union, frames the Ukraine conflict as part of a larger struggle against what he describes as a ‘self-interested’ West. As both Moscow and Tehran seek to navigate international isolation, their alliance is likely to strengthen further.
Putin invited Pezeshkian to visit Russia for the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan on October 22-24, and Pezeshkian accepted, as reported by Russia’s state-run RIA news agency. Both leaders emphasized the importance of expanding their economic and cultural connections. “The trend of cooperation between Iran and Russia must accelerate to strengthen these ties,” Pezeshkian said, as quoted by Iran’s official IRNA news agency.
Pezeshkian highlighted various areas for future collaboration, including energy projects, infrastructure, and petrochemicals. He expressed hopes that a strategic partnership agreement between Iran and Russia could be finalized at the BRICS summit later this month.
The burgeoning alliance has raised alarm in Washington. The U.S. has accused Iran of supplying ballistic missiles to Russia, a claim Tehran denies. Nonetheless, U.S. officials view the Iran-Russia partnership with growing concern, especially as it aligns against Western interests in multiple regions.
New World Order
At the Ashgabat summit, Putin reiterated his vision of an emerging ‘new world order’ characterized by multipolarity. Russia, he asserted, is open to dialogue about this shift across various international forums, including the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
The alliance between Russia and Iran has extended into these multilateral groups, with Iran set to join the BRICS summit later this month. Both countries share similar positions on global issues, with Pezeshkian noting, “Our positions are much closer to each other than to others.”
Meanwhile, the alliance between Tehran and Moscow also stirs historical memories. Russia and Iran have a complex history of rivalry, with the Caspian region and the Caucasus often points of contention. Recently, tensions have resurfaced over the proposed Zangezur corridor, a land link between Azerbaijan and Turkey that has raised concerns in Tehran due to its proximity to the Iranian border.
As Iran looks to modernize its military, it has expressed interest in acquiring Russian Sukhoi fighter jets, although these have yet to materialize. The two countries continue to manage their differences through diplomatic efforts, with national security officials from both sides engaged in ongoing talks to resolve issues. In a related development, MI5 Chief Ken McCallum recently warned of a ‘staggering’ increase in Iranian and Russian activities in the U.K., including assassination attempts and sabotage. British intelligence has reportedly thwarted 20 Iranian-linked plots since 2022, underscoring the growing international fallout from the Iran-Russia alliance.
The cooperation between Iran and Russia based on the recent developments and their leaders’ meeting:
- Drone Production: Iran is said to have established a drone factory within Russia to support its war efforts.
- Economic and Cultural Ties: The two countries aim to deepen their economic and cultural connections, focusing on energy projects, infrastructure, and petrochemicals.
- Multilateral Cooperation: Both nations align closely on global issues, particularly within groups like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
- Military Modernization: Iran has shown interest in purchasing Russian Sukhoi fighter jets as part of its military modernization efforts.
- New World Order Vision: Putin emphasized a shared vision with Iran of a multipolar world order, signaling a broader agenda on the global stage.
As the world watches how this alliance evolves, both Russia and Iran face internal pressures. Putin, wary of public opinion as the Ukraine war drags on, and Pezeshkian, vigilant amid potential unrest in Iran, must balance their partnership with domestic stability.
