Iran and Russia cooperating to thwart US hegemony

Pars Today- From Central Asia to West Asia and from the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea, it seems that the fate of Tehran and Moscow has been intertwined.

Iran and Russia are approaching the signing and implementation of the comprehensive agreement for extensive cooperation called, "Comprehensive Agreement of 20-Year Cooperation" and as the officials of both countries say, it will be finalized soon.

These two Eurasian powers, during the recent decades, have managed to reach common points on vital and strategic issues in the world and region. From Central Asia to West Asia and from the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea, it seems that the fate of Tehran and Moscow has been intertwined.

Vladimir Putin's trip to Iran in 2022, after the outbreak of war in Ukraine, which was his first trip to a country other than those of the former Soviet satellites since the start of the special operation in Ukraine, implied that Moscow is no more looking for a strategic counterpart in the West and seeks all its counterparts from among the powerful players of the region like Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia and trans-regional ones like China. Meanwhile, it seems that the relations of Russia and Iran are somehow beyond the former ones.

Iran and Russia are pursuing strategic goals such as progress in peaceful nuclear program, the program for development of conventional weapons like missile, drone and fighter, launching of satellite to the space, and strategic commercial cooperation like transportation corridors and, in general, standing firmly against the West and its ideology.

Iran's geopolitical situation in the region and its points of connection to the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Caspian Sea, have always been among the propositions which make it geographically more attractive for Russia.

On the other side, the value of trade exchanges between India and Russia have increased to more than $50 billion and the two countries intend to increase it to $400 billion. But transportation between India and Russia needs a safe corridor. It appears that both New Delhi and Moscow consider Iran as such a safe corridor.

Generally, Iran due to enjoying a special situation, is the junction of the great global markets. In fact, connecting the Indian Ocean to the Black Sea is very important for Russia even during non-sanction conditions, and this importance is doubled in the time of sanction and war. Moscow, with this corridor, whose vital route crosses through Iran, can take itself out of the dead-end and provide itself with access to warm and highly commuted waters.

It seems that the Tehran-Moscow security-military cooperation has turned into an increasing challenge for the US and its allies and for the recent years they have tried to disturb the cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.

Since the start of war in Ukraine, the West has been scared of bolstering of Tehran's cooperation with Moscow. Iran has announced several times that it is neutral in the Russian operation in Ukraine and, in spite of having military-security cooperation with Russia, it is not involved in this conflict and seriously calls for the end of war.

According to Emil Udliani, analyst of Russian affairs in the Center for European Policy (CEPA), the Iran-Russia agreement with the axis of free trade, is very important for both sides because it will strengthen the relations of these two Eurasian powers which are in pursuit of changing the global order led by the West.    

Source: Why is the West afraid of expanding the scope of strategic partnership between Iran and Russia? 2024, E'temad Daily

Key words: Iran-Russia relations, Russia-West relations, Is Iran powerful, Iran-Russia trade

RM/ME