Russias and Irans relation lacks cohesion a part from being in opposition to US global military and financial hegemony
Iran's President Pezeshkian Sends Mixed Signals
In mid-October, Russian President Putin met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, reassuring each other that their bilateral relationship is good and improving. However, just a month earlier, during the United Nations General Assembly in mid-September, Pezeshkian sent more conciliatory signals to the West. This was a sharp contrast to Iran's long-standing stance since the revolution in 1979.
Historically, Iran and Russia have been Skeptical towards each other, ...
Historically, Iran has viewed both the West and the Soviet Union with equal skepticism. For example, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei condemned the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 as an act of aggression. Similarly, the Soviet Union harbored distrust towards Iran's theocratic leadership.
However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia became less of a threat to Iran. Their relationship began to warm in the late 1990s, especially when Russia helped develop Iran’s nuclear program.
Since the 1979 revolution, Iran has been on a collision course with the United States. Despite this, Iran showed support for the U.S. during the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
... but militarily they complement each other
Iran and Russia are currently united in their support for Bashar al-Assad in Syria, where their cooperation has been pivotal in maintaining Assad's regime amid the civil war. Beyond Syria, Iran has benefited from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russian forces have found Iran’s Shahed drones invaluable on the battlefield. As a result, Russia has begun to produce its own copies of these drones. In exchange, Iran has been allowed to purchase advanced weaponry. This includes Su-35 fighter jets and potentially the S-400 missile defense system.
The ongoing Gaza conflict has further brought Iran and Russia closer together. During a recent meeting between security representatives from BRICS nations, Iran even proposed the establishment of a "BRICS Security Commission," signaling its desire for deeper engagement within this multilateral framework. Iran is already a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a key regional defense alliance.
Politically and Economically Their Trust is However Limited ...
But when it comes to economical and political questions the trust between the nations is limited.
Politically, both countries are aligned in their opposition to global American dominance. Both countries have shifted their orientations towards the East rather than the West.
Economically, energy exports dominate both their economies. Combined the two nations hold almost 40% of the world's known natural gas reserves and almost 20% of the oil reserves. However, due to international sanctions, they compete for the same customer, China. Notably, China is Iran’s only export partner.
This economic rivalry has obstained the two countries from finalizing a Strategic Partnership Agreement. Iran has not forgotten Russia's past support for UN sanctions against it. Neither has it forgotten Russia’s backing of the UAE’s claims over three islands in the Strait of Hormuz (Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb), which Iran controls.
... as They Have Competing Geopolitical Interests
One notable instance occurred in 2022 when Russia reportedly offered to block the United States from rejoining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—an agreement designed to ensure Iran's nuclear program remains strictly for peaceful purposes—if the U.S. agreed to lift some sanctions related to Ukraine. The JCPOA was agreed upon in 2015, but in 2018 the Trump administration abolished it again.
Moreover, Russia has opposed Iranian geopolitical interests by supporting Azerbaijan’s efforts to revive the Zangezur Corridor (see picture below). This corridor would allow Azerbaijan to export oil to the European Union, against Iran's interests. But it also poses a security threat to Armenia, which is a close ally to Iran.
At Times Iran also Counters Russian Interests
In international settings like the UN, Iran has strategically distanced itself from fully supporting Russia. While it refrained from condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it did not offer active support either.
Additionally, Iran has warned Russia against "heavy and costly consequences" if Russia continues to back Azerbaijan's Zangezur Corridor. This project that would connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave along the Irani-Armenian border.
Iran views Armenia as a crucial ally in the Caucasus region. It therefore protested markedly, when Azerbaijan invaded Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023.
The Relation Thus Builds Mostly on a Common Outer Enemy
President Pezeshkian's recent invitation to the west thus appears more of a subtle warning to Russia than a genuine desire to align with the EU. Despite their cooperation in various areas, their bond remains fragile. It is centered mainly on common external threats, rather than complementary internal policies.
A former member of the Russian Federation Presidential Political Council and head of the Iran Commission at Moscows Chamber of Commerce, Rajab Safarov, recently underscored this by announcing that a pro western Iran is far more dangerous to Russia than a nuclear armed Iran.
Ultimately, Iran and Russia have different geopolitical interests and low trust in each other. This has also manifested itself in BRICS.Today there is so much inertia in the decisions, that Octobers summit in Kazan in Russia remained largely inconclusive. India even expressed, that BRICS is not in opposition to the US and the USD, it is merely an alternative. This counters Irans and Russias interests.
