Iran's Readiness to 'Develop Military Cooperation with Russia'

On Wednesday, January 5, the Iranian Deputy Minister of Defense announced the Islamic Republic's readiness to 'develop and deepen' defense and military cooperation with Russia in all 'areas.' Qasem Taghizadeh made this statement during a meeting with General Osipov, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and head of the Russian section of the Joint Military Cooperation Commission between Iran and Russia at the Iranian Ministry of Defense. According to Tasnim News Agency, the two sides discussed the latest status of defense cooperation between the two countries, regional and international developments. Taghizadeh referred to the signing of an intergovernmental military cooperation agreement in 2014 between the defense ministers of the two countries and announced the Islamic Republic's readiness for 'developing and deepening defense and military cooperation in all areas.' The report indicates that Osipov also presented a report on the bilateral military cooperation between Tehran and Moscow in various fields, stating that 'the development, deepening, and strengthening of constructive relations between the armed forces of Iran and the Russian Federation is an important factor for ensuring security in the region and the world.' Tehran and Moscow cooperate in Syria to keep Bashar al-Assad in power and fight against the Syrian government's opponents. Ali Fadavi, Deputy Coordinator of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also met with Osipov, and according to IRNA, both sides expressed satisfaction with the current level of military cooperation between the two countries, emphasizing the necessity of developing these collaborations in line with the requirements arising from regional security situations and foreign interventions by trans-regional powers. IRNA reported that Fadavi and Osipov described 'the defeat of Takfiri terrorism in Syria as a product of the strategic partnership of the armed forces of the two countries in assisting the resistance front, responding to the Syrian government's request, and jointly managing and directing the battlefield.' ISNA also reported on a meeting between the commander of the Iranian Navy and General Osipov, where Hossein Khanzadi announced a joint naval exercise between Iran and Russia. He stated that naval cooperation between Iran and Russia will 'develop further' in the future and expressed satisfaction with 'the naval cooperation of the two countries in previous years,' adding, 'We are looking to accelerate and expand cooperation in the two geopolitical areas of the Caspian Sea and the southern fleet.' The commander of the Navy described the focus of negotiations with Russian military officials as 'interactions at sea in operational, technical, educational areas, exchange of task forces, and conducting tactical exercises and anti-piracy drills in the southern sea.' While Iranian military officials emphasize increasing relations and military cooperation with Russia, several military and political experts believe that Russia has never been a reliable partner for Iran and has adjusted its relationship with Iran solely based on its own interests in various situations. Among them, Hossein Aryan, a military expert, wrote about the reasons for what he called 'Russia's gradual distancing and abandonment of Iran' in Radio Farda: 'Some of Putin's reasons in this regard can be sought in the shadow of developments in the Middle East and Moscow's relations with the United States. One of the common points between Russia and the Islamic Republic in Syria, which was to strengthen Assad's position, has almost been achieved. Therefore, Putin is looking to achieve another goal in the Middle East.' The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic also called for increased cooperation between the two countries to 'contain the United States' and for economic transactions outside the dollar framework during a meeting with the Russian President in September of this year. Ayatollah Khamenei's remarks came at a time when Vladimir Putin had stated in May of this year during a meeting with Bashar al-Assad that foreign troops must leave Syria in the phase of establishing peace in the country. Following that, Alexander Lavrentiev, Putin's envoy for Syrian affairs, emphasized that this warning also applies to Iranian forces and Hezbollah. Sources: Tasnim, IRNA, IRIB News Agency, and Radio Farda.