Iran-Russia Relations Remain Unchanged: Mokhber Delivers Iranian Leader’s Message to Putin

TEHRAN – During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, Iran’s interim president conveyed a message from the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, stressing that the relations between Iran and Russia are so deep and long-lasting that no change of government can affect them.

Speaking in Astana, Kazakhstan, on the sidelines of the 24th summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Mokhber also said that the strategic relations between Iran and Russia have significantly changed the dynamics of global power, challenging the existing unilateral order.

Mokhber stressed that the strategic and deep-rooted relationship between Iran and Russia influences global developments. He noted that a new chapter in Tehran-Moscow relations is opening, promising benefits not only for the two countries, but also for the region as a whole and the world.

Highlighting the growing cooperation in the economic, trade, transport and energy sectors, Mokhber called for accelerating the implementation of a comprehensive bilateral cooperation agreement.

In recent years, Iran and Russia have strengthened their ties. The strategic cooperation agreement is expected to take their relations to a new level. During a recent meeting with Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Mokhber stressed the urgency of implementing this comprehensive cooperation agreement.

He also stressed the importance of completing the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which will significantly improve transport efficiency. The INSTC, a 7,200-km multimodal network, was established by an agreement between Russia, Iran and India in 2002 to facilitate the transportation of goods in several regions.

President Putin reiterated Russia’s strong and long-lasting relationship with Iran and welcomed the expansion of bilateral cooperation, including in the economic and trade sectors. He stressed that the free trade agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is a crucial step towards deeper cooperation, providing a platform for increased interactions with the member countries of the Union.

In December 2023, Iran and the EEU signed a major free trade deal, six years after Tehran joined the bloc to diversify its trading partners amid Western sanctions.

Putin also stressed that Tehran and Moscow share common positions on regional and global issues, including on efforts to establish a multipolar world. He expressed support for Iran’s proposal to join the Eurasian Union as an observer member.