On February 15, the Valdai Club hosted an expert discussion in partnership with the Iranian Institute of Political and International Studies (IPIS), dedicated to relations between Russia and Iran in the face of confrontation with the West.
Russia and Iran share a strategic partnership that is steadily deepening amid the largest security crisis in Europe. Common interests in the field of international energy and regional security have led to a rapprochement between Moscow and Tehran on a wide range of international political issues. Economic and trade ties are developing, and the countries plan to increase the share of national currencies in mutual settlements.
Russian experts are watching current aggravations in the Middle East with concern; at the initiative of the United States and Israel, pressure on Iran is growing. Washington’s latest stage of sanctions pressure on Tehran has led to a deadlock in negotiations on the JCPOA. At the same time, there are plans to unfreeze Iran’s relations with a number of Arab countries, which may become a milestone in regional policy, which is being gradually freed from the legacy of confrontations of the Cold War era.
How do Russia and Iran regard cooperation in Eurasia amid the new conditions? What impetus is being acquired by energy, financial and transport projects with the participation of Russia and Iran against the backdrop of the crisis in Europe? In what multilateral formats does cooperation between Moscow and Tehran look most promising? Participants of the expert discussion answered these and other questions.
Speakers:
Alexander Maryasov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Iran (2001-2005);
Adlan Margoev, Research Fellow, Centre for Middle East Studies, Institute for International Studies, MGIMO, Russian Foreign Ministry;
Khalil Shirqolami, Vice-President for Research, IPIS;
Ali Eqbali, Head of the Study Group for Eurasia, IPIS;
Alireza Miryousefi, Head of the Study Group for International issues, IPIS;
Manuchehr Moradi, Senior Expert, IPIS.
Moderator:
Andrey Sushentsov, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club.
Working languages: Russian, English.