TEHRAN – Under the dynamic leadership of newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian, the ties between Iran and Russia will be significantly strengthened.

Building on the solid foundation laid by the late President Ebrahim Raisi, the Pezeshkian government is committed to deepening this strategic alliance. This renewed vigor in diplomatic relations promises not only to strengthen economic and political ties, but also signals a continuation of successful cooperation and mutual support on the global stage. As both countries navigate the complexities of international affairs, their partnership will become a crucial force in shaping regional stability and global geopolitics.

From Tehran to Moscow
As evidence of this deepening alliance, Russian President Vladimir Putin was quick to congratulate Pezeshkian on his election success and expressed optimism about the blossoming of close relations between the two countries. The leaders emphasized their common interests and continued cooperation within influential international and regional organizations, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS. Putin’s invitation to Pezeshkian to attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan further strengthens this bond.

There is high anticipation for the signing of a comprehensive cooperation agreement between Iran and Russia, which marks a crucial step in consolidating their partnership. During a telephone conversation with Putin, President-elect Pezeshkian reiterated Tehran’s commitment to strengthening ties with Moscow. Pezeshkian highlighted the 20-year Iran-Russia Association Agreement, which has been under negotiation since late 2021, and indicated his readiness to finalize the deal during the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan.

The summit will bring together members of the BRICS group, originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and now with several new members. This emerging global bloc is transforming into a formidable and competitive entity, largely thanks to the combined efforts of Russia, Iran and China. Cooperation between these countries is expected to reshape the geopolitical landscape as Pezeshkian’s presidency ushers in a new era of Iranian-Russian cooperation.

Unbreakable Alliance: Strengthening Iran’s Enduring Partnership with the Eastern Bloc
Since President Pezeshkian’s election victory, Western media have suggested that Iran must choose between strengthening relations with the West and maintaining its long-standing alliances with Russia and China. This narrative implies an inevitable trade-off, suggesting that close cooperation with Europe and the United States will automatically lead to strained relations with Moscow and Beijing.

A deeper analysis, however, reveals contradictions in the motivations driving Iran’s partnerships with these world powers. To argue that strengthening ties with both the West and Russia at the same time is impractical ignores the nuanced dynamics of Iran’s foreign policy.

President Pezeshkian has established a clear framework for Iran’s foreign policy, particularly with regard to its eastern alliances. In a prominent article for the Tehran Times, he emphasized the continued support and friendship Iran has received from Russia and China in difficult times, and stressed the deep value attached to these relations.

The 25-year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China exemplifies Iran’s approach to global diplomacy, aimed at fostering mutually beneficial relations amid changing geopolitical circumstances. This strategic vision extends beyond bilateral relations and reflects Iran’s willingness to engage more deeply in a changing global order that is rapidly moving toward a multipolar world, marking the end of American unipolarity.

Regarding Russia, President Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with its strategic neighbor. This commitment extends to various frameworks, including BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Eurasian Economic Union, reflecting Iran’s strategic interests in regional stability and economic integration, as his predecessor, Ebrahim Raisi, successfully pursued.

Conversely, the Iranian president-elect has been critical of Western policies, particularly in light of their failure to meet their obligations under the JCPOA. He has criticized the unilateral expectations imposed on Iran and highlighted the coercive US policy that does not respect Iranian sovereignty.

In essence, the foundations, goals, and motivations that drive Iran’s relations with these world powers are fundamentally different. President Pezeshkian’s approach seeks to leverage the unique strengths of each partnership to advance Iran’s national interests on the global stage, navigating the complex terrain of diplomacy with insight and realism.

Iranian Strategic Sovereignty: Pride, Wisdom and Benefit
President Masoud Pezeshkian’s outspoken stance on US policy is not an independent initiative, but a reaction to the US administration’s unconstructive statements about negotiations. Even with the new Pezeshkian government reaching out to all countries for cooperation, the president has firmly concluded that US policy is not based on respecting the sovereignty of states, but rather on “hostility”.

To understand Pezeshkian’s foreign policy tendencies, we must look at his electoral base. Pezeshkian’s victory in the election is attributed to his conservative nature and his steadfast commitment to the principles of the Islamic Republic, which he repeatedly emphasized in his media appearances during the campaign. His adherence to these principles, which resonated deeply with Iranian voters, reflects the core values ​​of Iranian foreign policy: “pride, wisdom, and opportunism.” These principles will guide Pezeshkian’s approach to foreign policy and reinforce his commitment to the nation’s core values.

How can Iran cooperate with the West, which wants to label Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a key military institution that defended Iranian lands during the eight-year holy war with Iraq, in which Pezeshkian himself participated as a terrorist organization? How can it cooperate with the United States, which treacherously assassinated heroic Quds Force commander and national security figure Qassem Soleimani, without the three principles that Pezeshkian emphasized: pride, wisdom and benefit? President-elect Pezeshkian described this act as “state terrorism.”

The West’s demands on Iran amount to submission. Their demands are growing as Iran grows in power. After the nuclear deal, they demanded the abandonment of Iran’s missile program, then its defense industry, especially drones. They also demanded the severance of ties with the Axis of Resistance, and now they are insisting that Iran abandon its constructive relations with Russia and China. However, these expectations are met with resistance from Iran’s leaders, who see these alliances as crucial to the country’s sovereignty and security.

Despite the hopes of some reformers who admire the West and the United States for a shift in Iranian foreign policy after Raisi, Pezeshkian’s approach is rooted in a practical and historically informed perspective. Strengthening relations with Russia remains a cornerstone of Iran’s foreign strategy and reflects Pezeshkian’s commitment to a balanced and flexible diplomatic stance. The Iran-Russia relationship is based on a history of mutual recognition and strategic cooperation. It is important to remember that the Soviet Union was the first country to recognize the Islamic Republic of Iran, setting a precedent for a permanent and strategic partnership between Tehran and Moscow.

In conclusion, strengthening Iranian-Russian relations under President Pezeshkian is not just a political choice, but a necessity dictated by historical alliances and contemporary geopolitical realities. As Iran navigates the complex landscape of international relations, its steadfastness in maintaining strong ties with Russia is evidence of its enduring commitment to national pride, wisdom, and opportunism.

Mohammad Ali Senobari is Director and Editor-in-Chief of the New Vision Center for Strategic Studies