During negotiations in Moscow, Iran has raised the prospect of obtaining Russian assistance in the construction of a nuclear power facility.
President Vladimir Putin and President Masoud Pezeshkian inked a 20-year strategic cooperation contract Friday during Pezeshkian’s visit to the Russian capital.
It was Mr. Pezeshkian’s third encounter with the Russian leader and his first trip to the Kremlin since he was elected president in July of last year.
He expressed his optimism that the two presidents might reach a consensus on constructing a nuclear power facility in Iran with Russian assistance.
Mr Pezeshkian said, “We do consider our relations with you as vital, sensitive and strategic, and we are on this path strongly.”
Mr. Putin stated that despite obstacles, work on a possible gas pipeline to deliver Russian gas to Iran was moving forward and that Moscow was amenable to perhaps taking on further nuclear projects in spite of the delays in constructing new nuclear reactors for Iran.
The Iranian leader said that only Middle Eastern nations should defuse regional issues, perhaps in a jab at the United States.
“They come from another side of the world to make chaos in the region,” he stated. “These ties will defuse their plot, definitely.”
The West is likely to be concerned about the deal even if it is not anticipated to contain a mutual defense provision similar to the one Russia struck with North Korea.
A Donald Trump-shaped shadow
At Bushehr, Russia constructed Iran’s first nuclear power plant, which went online in 2013. The following year, it struck an agreement to construct two additional nuclear reactors.
However, Donald Trump’s return to the White House is only a few days away from the meeting.
Masoud Pezeshkian (centre) and Vladimir Putin (right).
Pic: AP
Mr. Trump abruptly withdrew the US from a 2015 agreement between Iran and six nuclear-armed nations that offered sanctions relief in exchange for Tehran reducing its atomic development during his first term in office.
In addition to taking a harsher stand against Iran, which is already struggling with economic problems and a decline in its military power throughout the Middle East, Mr. Trump has pledged to mediate peace in Ukraine.
Despite working together to support Bashar Assad’s regime during the Syrian civil war, Russia and Iran were unable to stop his overthrow last month.
Hamas, which Iran supports, has been beaten by Israel in its battle in Gaza, Islamist rebels have taken over Syria, and Russia has had its resources diverted to its conflict in Ukraine, all of which have damaged Mr. Pezeshkian’s reputation.
After Mr. Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia and Iran, who previously had tense ties, have become closer.
Both nations refuted the Western accusation that Tehran sent hundreds of drones to Moscow for the war on Ukraine.
