Amidst the global geopolitical chaos, the Trump administration is according high priority to the Middle East. A strong reiteration of this point is the US President’s visit to the Middle East, last month, where he visited three GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) member states – Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar. Apart from his prioritisation of US ties with the Gulf, US President, Donald Trump is also trying to working towards reduction of tensions with Iran and the renewal of the Iran nuclear agreement.
Iran-Russia 20-year strategic agreement ratified by the Parliaments of Russia and Iran
Amidst the Trump administration’s focus on the Middle East and its back-channel engagement between the US and Iran, an important development which has taken place is the ratification of the 20-year agreement between Russia and Iran by the parliaments of both countries. While Russia’s lower house ratified this agreement in April 2025, the deal was approved by Iran’s lower house of parliament late last month.
When the treaty was first signed in January 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin had dubbed it as a ‘breakthrough document,’. Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian said it would give a fillip to the relationship and open new vistas in several spheres.
Key features of the treaty
The treaty spans forty-seven articles, covering almost all major areas, including trade, energy, security and nuclear usage. The agreement, however, does not directly or explicitly talk about a “mutual defence clause”, like Article Five of The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), but relies on military cooperation and exchange. Article 5 of NATO, officially known as the ‘collective defence’ clause, established a mutual defence mechanism, among all member states. This means that all member states would have to come to the defence of a member that finds itself under attack or on the receiving end of military aggression from another enemy state. The clause is not applicable however, when the aggressor is a member state itself.
Skipping the mutual defence clause might be a tactical move, to dodge Western scrutiny, amidst the already sanctioned economic placement of both countries.
The agreement also provides a renewed hope for the North-South Transit Corridor, which Russia aims to bring in, as a counter to the Western-dominated trade routes. The impact of this changing relation in the Middle East has far-reaching implications, far beyond trade and traditional flash points, including sectarian cleavages (Sunni vs Shia) and proxy-led indirect warfare. This partnership tends to challenge the existing ideological axis, led by the Western unipolar ideology.
To understand the underlying importance of any issue, one must examine the usage of words in an agreement. The word ‘security’ is used twenty times in the treaty document, the very first mention being in Article 1 itself. Article 4, clause 1, states: “In order to strengthen national security and counter common threats, the intelligence and security services of the Contracting Parties shall exchange information and experience and enhance the level of their cooperation,” mentions about exchange of (military) intelligence, which in general parlance be interpreted as, establishing a common framework for deterrence against the US, further expanding its scope to the global geopolitical chess board, by adding “…cooperation as an important component of maintaining regional and global security,” under Article 6, clause 1.
Importance of the agreement
The partnership, spanning at least for the next two decades, is not but a bilateral agreement, but seems more like the blueprint of the new emerging world order. The partnership is inked at a time when the world’s two most sanctioned countries are trying to navigate the geopolitical waters amidst the strong winds from the mighty, but divided West, indicating an attempt to create an ecosystem to overcome sanctions, positioning both Iran and Russia as architects of new reality, not solely defined by military capabilities, but by the timely and strategic alignment of nations based on ideology, influence and resilience. The pact, therefore, is not a mere reaction to free-flowing Western pressure, it is a declaration of strategic intent. Intent that lies quiet, and deliberate, re-shaping the world beyond Western interest.
Similar Iranian agreements
Iran has signed multiple treaties in the past with several other major nations, not so surprisingly, all of them share strained ties with the US. The list of similar agreements includes China, North Korea, Venezuela and Belarus.
Iran-China 25 year Cooperation Agreement aims at ‘the establishment of a regional security dialogue platform to converge a new consensus on resolving the security concerns of countries in the region.’. Both countries have taken advantage of the weakening US position in the region, complementing each other in several aspects, most importantly the economy (in the context of Iran), geopolitics, defence and security. This agreement comes at a time when the world was struggling with COVID, and Iran with sanctions. China’s support for Iran’s nuclear ambition has been constant, which now, extends to investment in infrastructural projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, proposing a massive investment of $400 billion over the next 25 years.
Agreements or pacts signed by Iran with Belarus, North Korea, and Venezuela are often seen as a tool of show of strength against US hegemony. North Korea has signed a pact with Iran, enhancing its missile technology. Venezuela, on the other hand does not have much to offer, but has still signed the strategic pact as a tool of mutual defiance against US. Belarus, a staunch Russian ally, has consistently shown its support for Iran’s peaceful nuclear purposes.
Iran’s role in the Middle East
Iran in the Middle East, plays a crucial role as a deterrent towards the US-led Gulf alliance. In the modern era, major wars would not be won based on military might or what generally is referred to as hard power, but other factors, like; the power of a nation to influence and the outcome of the war through various means, including cyber warfare, misinformation and dis-information campaign against their enemy. Iranian proxies across the region, especially Hamas and Houthis, the once targeting Israel, gives the position of the king on the geopolitical chessboard of the world. King, not the most powerful piece in the game of chess, but the one who’s fait decides the outcome of the entire game.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Iran-Russia 20-year agreement is important not just from a bilateral context but has wide raging geopolitical ramifications, as has been discussed earlier. It remains to be seen as to how both countries navigate the current geopolitical challenges and utilise the agreement for mutual benefits.
[Photo by english.khamenei.ir, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons]
Tridivesh Singh Maini is a New Delhi based Policy Analyst. He is a faculty member with The Jindal School of International Affairs, OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat, India.
Rushank Kumar is a law graduate from NMIMS University, Mumbai, and currently a LAMP Fellow, Batch of 2025-26. He writes on international relations, law, and public policy, and has conducted research with leading academic and policy institutions across India. The views and opinions expressed in the article are those of the authors.
