Overview

• Iran's parliament ratified a 20-year strategic partnership with Russia, formalizing expanded military and economic collaboration.
• The pact includes joint military exercises, defense technology sharing, and coordination against shared threats, though it avoids a mutual defense clause.
• Iran and Russia aim to bypass Western sanctions by conducting over 95% of bilateral trade in rubles and rials and linking national payment systems.
• Iran has supplied Russia with drones used in Ukraine and is collaborating on domestic drone manufacturing; accusations of missile transfers remain disputed.
• Nuclear negotiations between Iran and the U.S. remain at an impasse, with Iran refusing to curb uranium enrichment or dismantle its missile program.