Iran and Russia ally against unilateral sanctions in joint declaration

The agreement focuses on fostering cooperation to counter, alleviate, and compensate for the adverse impacts of unilateral coercive measures, primarily sanctions imposed by Western countries.

The signing took place in advance of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday in Moscow, amplifying the strategic importance of this joint initiative.

Addressing the press, Sergey Lavrov emphasized the significance of the joint declaration.

"Undoubtedly, this is an important step towards increasing the coordination of the international community's efforts to fight against the illegal sanctions that the United States and its allies use as a substitute for diplomacy."

Hossein Amirabdollahian referred to the action as "a step in the framework of Tehran's initiative to create a union of countries under Western sanctions."

He also highlighted Iran's longstanding proposal, initiated approximately three years ago, aimed at forming a coalition of nations affected by unjust sanctions and unilateral actions perpetrated by the United States or other Western countries.

Responding to questions about the joint declaration at the Caspian Summit, Amirabdollahian underscored the widespread impact of unilateral sanctions, noting that more than 26 countries worldwide have been subjected to such measures by the United States or Western powers.

Iran's diplomatic efforts against sanctions have extended beyond its collaboration with Russia. Recently, Iran hosted the President of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel, who led a delegation for talks with Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Ebrahim Raisi.

The discussions centered around forming an "alliance against the US sanctions," reflecting shared concerns over the challenges posed by unilateral measures imposed by Western nations.

While Iran and Russia have intensified military cooperation in recent years, their collaboration has faced scrutiny, particularly in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The joint declaration signals a united front against sanctions and a commitment to addressing shared challenges arising from Western pressures.

Western countries have criticized Iran's role in the Ukraine conflict, citing the supply of Iranian-made drones to Russia. This has led to the imposition of sanctions on both Russia and Iran, heightening the geopolitical complexities surrounding this collaboration.