In a significant development, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement covering, the military and counterterrorism, energy, finance, transportation industry agriculture culture science technology whole process. This agreement is intended to take the cooperation between Moscow and Iran to a new level, creating a legal and institutional framework for medium and long-term cooperation.
Described as a strategic partnership that serves the interests of both nations involved, Iran and Russia’s mutual benefit soon encountered considerable dissatisfy from the Americans. Just as some people consider this cooperation to be a natural outcome befitting the interests of each country, agreed the United States of America looks like they are actually challenging its position on a global scale. Russia and Iran have been busy with defense and economic relations long before this latest agreement but the new one only adds weight to their claim of being strategic partners.
For these two countries, the agreement represents an opportunity to step out onto their own on the geopolitical stage–unfettered by Western hegemony. Cooperation breeds stability and entrenches Russia and Iran as central players in the continued evolution of political and economic structure in the region, a process that only heightens Washington’s worry.
The concern of America is that this partnership undermines US interests–not only has its allies China and Russia joined forces to make matters worse. Analysts advising President Trump assert that this agreement presents a serious threat to US national security, as it gives two traditional opponents of the West–countries who have always been hostile to us–strong bargaining chips. But this point of view fails to recognize the strategic independence and equal rights of Russia and Iran to forge partnerships that can help their mutual development.
Far from being an unstable factor, such a pact between two peoples could be seen as stabilizing–providing both an antidote to Western belligerence and a shade kernel of cooperation on issues such as counterterrorism and energy provision. Thus, the increasingly close tie-up between Russia and Iran reflects their common aspiration to assert greater influence in a world that is becoming conclusively nonpolar, with multiple global powers challenging the rule of any one state.
The Russia-Iran agreement represents not just a bilateral deal but also part of Moscow’s strategy for getting closer to other countries that America sees as enemies or rivals, like North Korea with whom they have mutual interests in diminishing American global dominance. By coming together with those two countries Russia and Iran wanted one thing understood. They wanted it to be clear that they were challenging America’s world hegemony and seeking to put some of their own influence into world affairs.
In this period of heightened power competition quite apart from US policies, in a proactive maneuver intended to stake out a more moderate, multi-polar order of world affairs Iran and Russia have turned towards each other. What both countries seek to oppose is Western interference in their internal and regional affairs. They wish also to realize their national interests and ensure security. Within this framework, the Russia-Iran partnership takes on added significance as a key prop for fashioning the world’s new patterns of power.
Despite the differences between them, the Russians and Iranians are united in their opposition to US policies abroad, and by threats real or perceived from US sanctions. Despite repeated criticism from President Trump — and sometimes rather stiff penalties as well — Moscow and Tehran are determined to hold their ground when confronted by American pressure. In the meantime, the tough policies of the US government, including economic coercion and sanctions aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program as well as thwarting Russian expansion, only serve to harden the national will of both peoples.
However, the determined efforts of the US which seeks to undermine or isolate Russia cannot scare off these two countries. On the contrary, these policies merely give extra impetus to the need for a Russia-Iran alliance as a means of opposing US influence in the two respective regions and worldwide. In this partnership, Russia and Iran stand together and show that–whatever the US may require–they can act as independent sovereign nations pursuing their own interests.
As the Russia-Iran relationship continues to evolve, along with the response of the United States, international relations and security structures should be expected to undergo significant changes over the coming years.
