Iran, Russia Reaffirm Economic and Regional Cooperation

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has emphasized the ongoing coordination between Tehran and Moscow, including efforts to expand trade, energy cooperation, and railway infrastructure.

“Our consultations with Russia are ongoing across all sectors. In addition to our broad bilateral collaborations, we regularly exchange views on developments in West Asia, the Caucasus, and other strategic regions,” Araghchi said during a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Tehran on February 25, according to state news agency IRNA.

He further announced that the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Cooperation Commission, which will focus on strengthening economic ties in key sectors such as energy, railways, and tourism, is set to convene soon.

Araghchi reaffirmed Iran and Russia’s shared positions on critical regional matters, particularly regarding Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, while calling for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied territories in southern Lebanon.

The Iranian diplomat also addressed ongoing discussions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, highlighting Tehran and Moscow’s close consultations on the issue. 

“Iran’s stance on nuclear negotiations is firm: we will not negotiate under threats or sanctions. As long as the U.S. continues its maximum pressure policy, direct negotiations between Tehran and Washington will remain impossible,” Araghchi said.

Referring to the significant growth in trade between Iran and Russia despite ongoing Western sanctions, Lavrov noted that trade volume between the two nations had surged by more than 13% over the past year. 

“We are pleased to see an increase in trade exchanges between Iran and Russia, and we hope to maintain this momentum,” he noted.

He also pointed to the Rasht-Astara railway project, part of the International North-South Transport Corridor, which is an important trade route linking India to Russia and northern Europe via Iran, underlining the significance of logistics and transport cooperation in strengthening Iran-Russia economic ties.

Lavrov further referenced the Comprehensive Strategic Agreement signed during the Iranian president’s visit to Moscow on January 18 and expressed hope for the swift implementation of an Eurasian free trade deal.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had a meeting with the Russian foreign minister on February 25, where he said that

“Iran and Russia have appropriate capacities to strengthen cooperation with each other, and we are determined to strengthen the interactions between Tehran and Moscow.”

President Pezeshkian also called for expediting the implementation of agreements, particularly the strategic agreement between the two countries.

Lavrov’s visit has sparked speculation about potential mediation between Washington and Tehran or the delivery of a message from the Trump administration. Iran, facing economic hardship, confronts a complex dilemma in dealing with Donald Trump, who has vowed to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and seeks a deal that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has rejected.

The timing of this trip is notable, given Iranian apprehensions regarding ongoing Russia-US discussions in Saudi Arabia about ending hostilities in Ukraine. Moscow received a boost as the Trump administration signaled a desire for a swift resolution to the Ukraine conflict and a restoration of bilateral ties. Meanwhile, the West has imposed sanctions on Tehran, citing evidence that it is supplying Moscow with drones and missiles used in the Ukraine conflict.