Aleksey Dedov, Russian Ambassador to Iran: Iranian direction is one of highest priorities for Russian foreign policy

In an exclusive interview to Mehr News Agency, Russian Ambassador to Iran Aleksey Dedov outlined the deepening of relations between Russia and Iran, describing them as having reached “a comprehensive strategic partnership” for the first time in their modern history. 

According to the ambassador, Moscow sees the bilateral relationship as a top foreign policy priority, underpinned by growing political coordination and joint participation in multilateral frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), BRICS, and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). “None of our partners outside the CIS space holds corresponding status in all three of these major groupings,” Dedov noted.

On the economic front, Dedov reported steady growth in bilateral trade, with a 13.29 per cent increase last year and expectations of even higher figures following the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between Iran and the EAEU on 15 May. He also pointed to major joint projects, including the continued construction of units two and three of the Bushehr nuclear power plant and the Rasht-Astara railway.

He noted that an independent payment system is already operational, with over 95 per cent of transactions now being carried out in national currencies. Mutual acceptance of national payment cards has also been established, simplifying trade and travel between the two nations.