TEHRAN -- Iran is ready to sign a strategic partnership with Russia, mirroring one concluded early this year with China, the foreign ministry said on Monday.
“The initial arrangements of this document, entitled the Global Agreement for Cooperation between Iran and Russia, have been concluded,” said ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh.
“We are in the process of finalizing diverse clauses of the document and we will send it to Moscow,” he told reporters.
“In recent years, it has become necessary to improve relations between Iran and Russia and to concentrate on strategic partnerships,” he adds. “Between Iran, China and Russia, the eastern axis is emerging.”
He added that Tehran hopes the document will be signed in the coming months.
Last month, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) formally accepted Iran as the new member of the Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance at its 21st summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, joining the talks via video conference after self-isolating over COVID-19 fears, said Iran’s accession would certainly help further increase the organization’s international clout.
“We always support Iran’s full participation in the activities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization because Iran has played an important role in the Eurasian region and has a long-term positive cooperation with this organization,” he said.
Earlier this month, Iran’s new top diplomat met with his Russian counterpart to discuss boosting bilateral ties and establishing a plan to settle growing tensions at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
Upon his arrival in Moscow, Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian previewed his concerns toward suspected enemy activity in the Caucasus, telling reporters he expected Russia to share Iran’s concerns regarding “any possible change of borders, the presence of terrorists and Zionist movements that run contrary to the peace, stability and security of the region.”
Amir-Abdollahian then sat down with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss a range of issues including the Caucasus region, along with the hot topics of Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and the multilateral nuclear deal abandoned by the United States.
At a press briefing following their talks, Amir-Abdollahian emphasized that the countries would further bolster their growing relations in a variety of fields and on international issues as well. He also reiterated Tehran’s concerns regarding geopolitical shifts and the presence of the occupying regime of Israel and militant groups in the Caucasus.
Lavrov, for his part, said Russia

was supportive of efforts to keep foreign forces out of the region through a pan-Caspian Sea treaty. He revealed a proposal to hold “3+3” discussions involving the post-Soviet Caucasus republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia as well as “the three ‘big’ neighbors, namely, Russia, Iran and Turkey.”
“Our Iranian friends are supportive of this initiative, as are Azerbaijan and Turkey,” Lavrov said. “We are working on it with our Armenian colleagues..”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova reiterated Moscow’s position during a press conference.
“We proceed from the prioritized nature of the task of ensuring geopolitical stability and security in the South Caucasus region,” Zakharova said. “Our country is pursuing an appropriate comprehensive policy, including by maintaining a dialogue with all regional players.”