Iran’s Ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, signaled on Sunday that Tehran and Moscow are exploring the possibility of joint defense agreements—marking the first public admission from an Iranian official that the relationship may soon include commitments that go beyond the security cooperation outlined in the January 2025 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty.
In an interview with Iranian media, Jalali stated that Russian proposals for joint defense arrangements were “still in the early stages,” though he acknowledged that the discussions represent a different level of cooperation compared to past agreements. While the existing partnership treaty enhanced coordination across economic, political, and military spheres, it did not include a mutual defense clause similar to the pact Russia signed with North Korea in 2023.
The ambassador’s remarks follow months of speculation that Tehran and Moscow have accelerated military cooperation after Israel’s attack on Iran in June, which triggered a 12-day conflict. Shortly after the war began, President Vladimir Putin commented publicly on Iran’s refusal during earlier negotiations to accept Moscow’s offer of a mutual defense pact and an integrated air defense system—suggesting that Russia had sought deeper military alignment long before the current discussions.
Jalali appeared to confirm that Iran may now be reassessing those earlier positions. When asked about potential arms purchases, he stated that Iran had not requested the S-400 air defense system before June’s hostilities, but hinted that the situation had changed. He noted that “other military cooperation is proceeding according to plan and with confidentiality,” reinforcing broader reports that covert arms deliveries are already underway.
Since the end of the June conflict, flight-tracking data and local reporting have documented regular Russian military flights into Tehran. Analysts believe these transports may include air defense components, radar systems, and potentially aircraft. Videos circulating on social media in recent months appear to show newly delivered MiG-29 fighter jets, which some Iranian officials have described as an interim measure until deliveries of Russian Su-35s—long sought by Tehran—begin.
Russia and Iran have steadily expanded their strategic ties over the past decade, but Moscow’s deteriorating relations with the West since the start of its campaign in Ukraine have accelerated the partnership dramatically. With both countries facing heavy sanctions and increasingly aligned regional interests, the possibility of a formal defense arrangement now appears more realistic than at any time in the post–Cold War era.