Raisi-Putin summit: will it draw up a new balance of power?
4 Min Read
The Russian and Iranian presidents held a summit described as "historic," in which they discussed several security, political, and economic issues in light of the rapid succession of events in several regions in the world.
-
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin
A major summit took place in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi.
The summit saw both presidents discussing various issues, including cooperation, coordination, political agreements, economic deals, and, most importantly, drawing up a long-term roadmap between Tehran and Moscow.
As President Raisi said, this summit could constitute a turning point in terms of relations between his country and Russia, especially as they have stood in the face of the United States over the span of decades. Any agreement of theirs would have major security, military, political, and economic significance for both countries, not to mention the Middle East and Central Asia.
This summit was described as "historic" due to both leaders' shared stances, as Raisi said cooperation with Russia "would ensure regional security and put an end to US unilateralism."
President Putin summarized the Russian interest in Iran in his words that included three boldly specified titles:
1 - Military interests, as Putin talked about Tehran and Moscow's cooperation in Syria, which "helped Damascus overcome terrorist threats."
2 - Political interests, which include major international issues and the common stances Iran and Russia have on some of them.
3 - Economic interests, which could see Russia and Iran establishing free-trade zones between them.
Commenting on the significance of the summit, the editor-in-chief of Iran Diplomatic, Imad Abshnas, told Al Mayadeen the Russian-Iranian partnership "helped Moscow reach the oceans and the seas."
#المسائية | لماذا أعطى الرئيس الإيراني #إبراهيم_رئيسي زيارته إلى #موسكو أهميّةً على مستوى العلاقات بين #إيران و #روسيا؟ وكيف ستكون انعكاسات هذه الزيارة عمليّاً؟#بوتين @ramiaalibrahim pic.twitter.com/UbHC8aRE0I
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) January 19, 2022
He also underlined that the memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Russia will become a 20-year-long strategic agreement.
"We, in Iran, are overjoyed over the American irritation at the Iranian-Russian summit," Abshnas said, adding that there is "coordination between Iran, Russia, and China to find a new front in the face of the United States."
The new coalition could save the world from Western policies, he explained.
Regarding the nuclear agreement, Abshnas underscored that it was in America's interest to implement the nuclear agreement rather than withdraw from it.
The reason behind the US withdrawal from the JCPOA, he explained, was that it "wanted the lion's share from the agreement, and Tehran gave that to the Europeans."
Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, Asia and Middle East specialist Elena Suponina told Al Mayadeen Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi would open a session for the Russian Parliament by delivering a speech in front of the legislative body.
#المسائية | كيف تنظر #موسكو إلى القمّة التي تجمع بين الرئيسين الإيراني والروسي وفي أي خانة تضعها؟#بوتين #إبراهيم_رئيسي #إيران #روسيا @ramiaalibrahim pic.twitter.com/yyLwVV5dgB
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) January 19, 2022
Additionally, she highlighted the importance of establishing economic relations and reciprocal interests between Iran, Russia, and China, adding that "the economic sanctions on Iran are unacceptable, and they must be removed."
Vice-Chairman of the America First Policy Institute Center for American Security Frederick Fleitz affirmed to Al Mayadeen that Washington was not happy with seeing such an exceptional summit.
"Moscow is receiving the Iranian government because they have the chance to work together against the West," he asserted, clarifying that regional states should "discuss with Russia the necessity of not having rapprochement or cooperation with Iran."
The United States, he said, "Must find a way to coexist with Russia, not threaten it," noting that isolating Russia would bring it closer to China and Iran, "And that is dangerous."
#المسائية | كيف ترصد #واشنطن إلى القمّة التي تجمع بين الرئيسين #بوتين و #رئيسي؟#إيران #روسيا #الولايات_المتحدة @ramiaalibrahim pic.twitter.com/S4hjAJRTim
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) January 19, 2022
Regarding the 2015 nuclear agreement, Fleitz claimed that former US President Donald Trump was "right to withdraw from the agreement because Iran was not committing," blaming international organizations, such as the IAEA of subjectivity.
The former US government official concluded by saying, "We want Russia to establish relations and an alliance with Europe and the west, not with China."
