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As the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit got underway in Uzbekistan on Thursday, Iran signed a declaration of allegiance to the organization. The Islamic Republic has been formally admitted as a member of the Eurasian organization seeking to establish cooperation at the political, economic, and security levels, however, the finalization of the memorandum of obligations requires an Iranian signature before the country can be considered a full member.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that ties between Russia and Iran are progressing in all directions and that work on a significant new cooperation agreement that would raise relations to a new level is nearly finished.

On the sidelines of the SCO summit, Putin spoke to his Iranian counterpart President Ebrahim Raisi and announced that "work on a new, major agreement between Russia and Iran is in its final stage. [This treaty] will mark the transition of relations between our countries to a strategic level."

Putin stated that a sizeable delegation of Russian officials, including representatives from over 80 prominent Russian businesses, will travel to Iran the next week. Putin remembered that the last time a substantial delegation of Russian officials visited Iran in May, they were surprised and thrilled by the country's degree of high-tech sector development.

In a direct address to Raisi, Putin said, "To be honest, they did not expect this. We and I personally congratulate you on this," adding that "interregional ties are developing. We are actively cooperating in the international arena, and on many [points] our positions are close, or as diplomats would put it, they coincide.”

Putin also praised the Iranian leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei, noting that his personal commitment was at the core of the Russian-Iranian projects being put in place, highlighting that "we are interested in his support in the future. Please convey my best wishes to him."

The Russian President said he would use all of his influence to see that Iran joins the SCO on an equal footing and that this proposal would be backed by Russia's fellow members of the organization.

Putin further noted that "the last formality remains...and Iran will join this serious, large and authoritative international organization," adding that “we are very happy about this."

From the Iranian perspective

On his part, Raisi noted that relations between the two countries carry a “strategic importance” and that the two have moreover managed to counterweight Western sanctions.

Raisi argued that "we are serious about the development of bilateral relations. Our relations are not ordinary, they are of a strategic nature. Cooperation can continue to develop in the political, trade and economic, as well as the space and aerospace sectors.”

Raisi also denounced the collective-West’s anti-Russia sanctions and stressed that sanctions against both Russia and Iran will be neutralized. "We do not recognize sanctions against Russia and will not officially recognize them, we intend to develop trade and economic ties. Interaction between countries against which the United States has imposed sanctions, such as Russia and Iran, can neutralize a significant part of the problems. A significant part of those restrictions or US threats against Iran and Russia will be neutralized," Raisi said.

On the nuclear deal, Raisi said what is important for Iran is that it has never left the negotiating table but rather it was able to prove to the world that the US is incapable of negotiating.

"They violate all obligations, and everyone has been convinced that the European Union is also in a passive situation, that they too are unable to carry out their obligations," Raisi said.

The Iranian President thanked his Russian counterpart for supporting the Islamic Republic's quest for membership in the SCO and highlighted that Iran's full membership in the alliance would be advantageous to both Moscow and the whole organization.

In recent years, Russia and Iran have intensified their strategic collaboration in a number of fields. In 2021, trade between the two nations climbed by 81%; throughout the first five months of 2022, it increased by an additional 30%. Agriculture makes up more than 80% of the commerce between the two nations, with Russia selling grains and oil seeds and Iran importing GMO-free fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, and nuts, among other high-quality and natural products.

The two countries have had close and expanding relations, and the anti-Western positions of both governments created aligned interests on both sides.

The start of the war in Ukraine and the imposition of severe Western sanctions against Moscow has brought both countries closer in their anti-Western campaign.

Having joined the MIR payment system, switched to trade with national currencies, purchased goods and services, and increased joint industrial cooperation, Russia has benefited from its investment in building ties with its Iranian counterpart. 

Last but not least, there are several reports that Russia is utilizing sophisticated Iranian drones in Ukraine due to limitations in its own UAV technology. However, Kremlin has dispelled these speculations and slammed an article in the Washington Post on the subject as a "fake news story."

Read more: Iranian FM signs memorandum allowing Iran to join SCO