On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law approving a strategic partnership deal between Moscow and Tehran, which was initially agreed upon earlier this year, as reported by the Russian state news agency RIA. This was followed by approval of the deal by the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, on April 16. The State Duma, the lower house, had already confirmed it on April 8.

The 20-year agreement, which can be automatically extended in five-year increments, aims to strengthen and broaden cooperation between Russia and Iran across various sectors, according to a statement released after the upper house’s approval.

“In accordance with it, Russia and Iran seek to deepen and expand relations in all areas of mutual interest, strengthen cooperation in the field of security and defence, and closely coordinate activities at the regional and global levels,” according to the statement.

The statement also highlighted that the agreement encompasses sectors such as arms control, combating international terrorism, and expanding cooperation in fields like trade, banking, transport, energy, and peaceful nuclear energy. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian marked a 20-year strategic partnership agreement in Moscow on January 17. During a press conference after the signing, Putin stated that the agreement acts as a blueprint for enhancing long-term collaboration between Moscow and Tehran in various sectors, including trade and investment.

“And this truly breakthrough document is aimed at creating the necessary conditions for the stable and sustainable development of Russia and Iran, and our entire common Eurasian region,” he further said.