Russia Seeks to Deepen Cooperation with Iran: Strategic Linkages and Security Implications

Key Chapter Title List

1. Russia-Iran High-Level Exchanges and Strategic Alignment Process
2. Advancement of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement
3. Core Content and Implementation of Russia-Iran Military Cooperation
4. Iran's Weapon and Material Supplies to Russia
5. Russia's Defense and Technical Support to Iran
6. Current Status and Controversies of Russia-Iran Nuclear Cooperation
7. Russia's Support for Iran's Regional Proxies
8. Coordination and Intervention of Russia and Iran in Middle East Conflicts
9. Western Sanctions and International Community Reactions
10. Impact of Bilateral Cooperation on Regional and Global Security Landscape

Document Introduction

Since 2024, the frequency of high-level exchanges between Russia and Iran has increased significantly, with the strategic relationship between the two countries showing a trend of accelerated tightening. Behind this trend is the intertwining of the prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict and military confrontations related to Israel, which has made the synergistic effects in the military, economic, and diplomatic fields increasingly prominent. Russia's reliance on Iranian weapon supplies and Iran's strategic demands have become mutually binding.

The two sides have built a foundation for cooperation through intensive high-level visits: Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin successively visited Tehran. President Putin met twice with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the Turkmenistan International Forum and the BRICS Kazan Summit, pushing the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement," prepared for two years, into the final countdown for signing. Putin has already instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via a presidential decree to advance the signing of the highest-level agreement.

Military cooperation is the core pillar of bilateral relations. Iran has supplied Russia with approximately 8,000 drones, assisted in establishing a drone manufacturing factory in Yelabuga, Russia, and transferred hundreds of short-range ballistic missiles along with large quantities of ammunition, artillery, anti-tank missiles, and other equipment. Russia, in turn, provides support to Iran in areas such as air defense system component supply, electronic warfare capability building, ballistic missile technology upgrades, and space cooperation. The training of Iranian pilots on SU-35 fighter jets is also progressing.

At the regional level, Russia has strengthened its support for Iran's regional proxies, including conducting intelligence exchanges and supplying weapons with Lebanese Hezbollah, and providing satellite imagery support and military advisor assistance to the Yemeni Houthis. This cooperation was reflected in the September 2024 Lebanon conflict and the Red Sea shipping attacks. In the nuclear field, Russian and Iranian nuclear agencies maintain frequent contact. While Russia does not support Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, it tends to elevate Iran's nuclear threshold status and provide diplomatic support, thereby enhancing its own influence and putting pressure on the West.

The upgrade in Russia-Iran relations has shifted from the traditional asymmetric pattern to a more equal, symmetric relationship. This change has triggered deep concern in the West and Jerusalem. Russia's motivation for cooperation includes both alleviating pressure on the Russia-Ukraine battlefield and reducing war costs, as well as the intention to divert U.S. and European resource investment in the Ukraine issue by binding itself to Iran and its proxies. The extent of U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict directly determines the scale and depth of Russia's support for Iran.