How did Iran and Russia become friends, how many weapons did they give to each other?

Iran-Russia Relations / How did Iran and Russia become friends, how many weapons did they give to each other?

Iran-Russia Relations - How did Iran and Russia become friends, how many weapons did they give to each other?

Iran-Russia Relations: The meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Turkmenistan has given new signals in global politics. This meeting took place in the program of the 300th birth anniversary of an 18th century poet, but its political and strategic aspects are very important. This is not the first meeting between the two countries, but in recent years the leaders of Russia and Iran have been meeting each other continuously.

A glimpse of the old relations between Russia and Iran

There was a time when the relations between Iran and Russia were as bitter as those between America and Iran today. During the Pahlavi regime, Iran used to receive military aid from America and Britain and export oil in return. After the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini distanced himself from both America and the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union had once colonized Iran's Persia region, due to which Iran was hostile to the Soviet Union.

Changing equations of Russia and Iran

However, due to increasing tensions with the US and other countries, Iran felt the need for other allies to enhance its military capabilities. Gradually, relations between Iran and the Soviet Union (Russia) improved. Now, both countries are taking big steps in military cooperation, and they are providing weapons and technology to each other in defiance of Western countries.

Weapons Iran receives from Russia

In the 1990s, Russia provided Iran with a number of military equipment, including T-72 tanks, fighter jets, submarines, anti-tank missiles and helicopters. This cooperation increased further after Vladimir Putin came to power. Major arms deals between the two countries in 2005 and 2016 further strengthened this partnership.

Iran's help during the Ukraine war

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Iran provided Russia with Shahed-136 drones, ballistic missiles and other military equipment. Apart from this, Iran also gave Russia modern missiles like Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar. In return, Iran expects SU-35 fighter jets and S-400 air defense systems from Russia.

Nuclear cooperation and prospects

There has also been discussion in the media that Russia may have a role in Iran's nuclear program. Although there is no concrete confirmation of this, Russia has been hinting at helping Iran's nuclear program to meet domestic energy needs.

Thus, the meeting of Putin and Pezeshkian is considered important in the context that in the coming times, both countries will deepen their strategic partnership, which can also affect the global power balance.