Masoud Pezeshkian, the newly elected President of Iran, has vowed to maintain strong relations with Russia throughout his term in office. In an article published by Tehran Times, Pezeshkian referred to Moscow as a “valued strategic partner” and pledged to strengthen ties between the two countries.
Inauguration for the new president is scheduled for July 30, at which time he will take over from his predecessor, Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash earlier this year. Pezeshkian secured his win in last week’s election by defeating rival candidate Saeed Jalili, with 53.7% of the vote compared to Jalili’s 44.3.
During a meeting with Iranian lawmakers at the tenth BRICS Parliamentary Forum held in St Petersburg on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin commended the progress made by both countries in their relations over recent years. He expressed hope that this positive momentum would continue under Pezeshkian’s leadership, noting that ties between Russia and Iran will develop at a steady pace similar to those experienced during Raisi’s tenure.
In his article, Pezeshkian outlined his foreign policy priorities and emphasized the importance of maintaining close ties with Moscow, China, and other members of international organizations such as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and Eurasian Economic Union. He also highlighted Iran’s commitment to actively supporting efforts aimed at ending the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Regarding Iran’s relationship with Europe, Pezeshkian acknowledged that it has had its ups and downs, including instances where European nations failed to uphold their commitments related to salvaging the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers after the United States withdrew from it in 2018. Despite these setbacks, he expressed optimism about engaging in constructive dialogue with European countries based on principles of mutual respect and equal footing.
When it comes to relations with the United States, Pezeshkian stressed that Washington needs to recognize the reality of Iran’s stance – namely, that the country does not respond well to pressure. This highlights the importance for both sides to engage in dialogue and work towards establishing a more cooperative relationship built on mutual understanding and respect.