TEHRAN – Russia’s willingness to promote mutual cooperation with Iran is unwavering, declared Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf on the sidelines of the 10th BRICS Parliamentary Forum. 

"We seek to further expand bilateral relations between Moscow and Tehran in various spheres, and our cooperation will continue to grow,” the Russian president said in St. Petersburg on Thursday.

Putin expressed satisfaction with Iran's recent inclusion in the BRICS group of emerging economies, stating, "Russia has wholeheartedly supported the Islamic Republic’s membership." 

Iran officially joined BRICS at the beginning of this year, following its acceptance as a full member alongside Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. 

The BRICS group, initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, now represents approximately 40% of the global population and a quarter of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP). Iran was one of many countries that sought membership in BRICS and submitted a formal application to join the organization.

"I am hopeful and have no doubt that relations between Iran and the Russian Federation will be developing," Putin stated, referring to the upcoming Iranian administration led by President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian. "We will be boosting our ties, just as we did under the late Iranian president Ebrahim Raeisi." 

To underscore this commitment, Putin announced, "Chairman of Russia’s State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin will head a delegation to Iran to take part in Pezeshkian’s swearing-in ceremony, which is set to take place on July 30."

Before his negotiations with Putin, Qalibaf had a meeting with Volodin, during which both sides exchanged views on a range of issues on mutual ties, as well as regional and international developments.

'Geopolitical change to borders Iran’s redline'

In another meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum, Qalibaf told the Vice President of the National Assembly of Armenia that Iran will not tolerate any changes in its borders. “Our red line is any border change in Iran's neighborhood and we have emphasized this many times,” he said.

Ruben Rubinyan, for his part, offered condolences over the passing of the late President Ebrahim Raisi and thanked Iran for aiding Armenia in guarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. "I thank you, the authorities and the people of Iran for supporting Armenia regarding the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country. Iran's position on the issue of Armenia is based on inviolable principles."

Baku, which has been locked in a tussle with Yerevan over territorial issues for the past decades, said after the conclusion of its last war with Armenia in 2023, that it plans to construct a corridor to connect mainland Azerbaijan to the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The proposed corridor named “Zangezur” would encroach on Armenia’s territory and cut the country’s historical borders with Iran. Tehran has warned Azeri officials multiple times against plans to invade and occupy Armenia’s territory, saying it does not allow any geopolitical changes in the region. 

'BRICS should boost move towards de-dollarization'

During his speech at the 10th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, Qalibaf called for BRICS member countries to prioritize de-dollarization and strengthen multilateral cooperation, highlighting the group's potential to counter U.S. influence. 

The parliament speaker emphasized the importance of the group in the face of a "world system that has not been able to take fruitful measures in the field of resolving regional and international disputes."

"The current world system has not been able to take fruitful measures in the field of resolving regional and international disputes, ending wars, conflicts, and inequalities," he stated. "Based on this, new collective economic and political capacities are being formed within the framework of multilateral organizations which intends to spread global governance based on the principle of multilateralism."

Qalibaf specifically pointed to the "important measures" of de-dollarization and the use of alternative currencies for trade within BRICS. "This will cut off one of the main levers of U.S. pressure on emerging economies," he asserted, citing the recent financial agreement between Iran and Russia as a successful example of de-dollarization in bilateral relations.

The Iranian official also advocated for the development of trade corridors and the expansion of cooperation in financial transfer processes within the group. "Expanding cooperation in determining money transfer processes between member countries as well as developing trade corridors for the transfer of goods and services of BRICS members are among the important capacities that must be pursued and activated by the member assemblies. The four main axes of transit, energy, trade, and banking are among the most important issues of cooperation among BRICS members. The Iranian parliament and the new government of Iran are fully prepared to cooperate with their partners in all these areas.”

Iran, Russia collaborate on 15 cooperation documents

In a separate meeting, the chief of the Russian Federation Council emphasized the coordination of 15 commercial cooperation documents between Iran and Russia in a meeting with the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament.

Valentina Matviyenko, the chairman of the Central Council of the Russian Federation, met with Qalibaf on the sidelines of the BRICS summit and emphasized the great potential of Iran and Russia in trade exchanges based on strategic documents between the two countries.

Qalibaf stated, “BRICS alongside bilateral relations between Iran and Russia has regional and international implications for both countries. The presidency of Russia at the BRICS summit provides a suitable opportunity for bilateral relations, especially in the economic, security, social, cultural, transit, energy, and trade sectors.”

Valentina Matviyenko also emphasized the importance of coordination between the institutions of the two countries to increase cooperation and implement strategic commercial documents.

Following Iran's official membership in the BRICS international group in 2024, the head of the Iranian Parliament departed to Russia to participate in the parliamentary summit of this group and met with other officials of the BRICS member countries.