Russia’s parliament approves a collaboration agreement with Iran.

As Moscow gets closer to its important partner, the lower house of parliament of Russia voted Tuesday to adopt a deal to strengthen political, military, and economic relations with Iran.

High tensions exist between Iran and the West at the time of Tuesday’s vote, and Russia is attempting to improve relations with Washington despite its attack against Ukraine.

Over the last three years, as military cooperation has grown, Kiev and the West have accused Iran of providing Russia with weaponry, notably self-detonating “Shahed” drones, for its war against Ukraine.

Although the parties committed to assisting one another in fending off shared “security threats,” the treaty falls short of a mutual defense agreement similar to the one North Korea and Russia inked last year.

“The signing of the treaty does not mean the establishment of a military alliance with Iran or mutual military assistance,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said in an address to the State Duma. Instead the treaty states that if either side is subjected to aggression, the other will not provide “assistance to the aggressor”.

Presidents Masoud Pezeshkian and Vladimir Putin signed the comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement in January, but it cannot take effect until it is approved by Moscow’s rubber-stamp parliament.
Pezeshkian stated that it would “open a new chapter in relations between Iran and Russia in all fields,” while Putin at the time referred to it as a “breakthrough document.”

President Donald Trump seemed to threaten to destroy Iran if it did not come to the table for discussions on curbing its nuclear program, prompting Moscow to warn of the dangers of growing tensions between the United States and Iran.

Trump said that he will hold direct negotiations with Iran on the matter this Saturday.

Following the start of its war on Ukraine, Russia has developed stronger connections with a number of the West’s enemies, including China and North Korea.

Last year, Russia and Pyongyang inked a strategic partnership contract that defined cooperation in the face of Western sanctions and potential military aid in the event of an assault.