President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, I would like to begin by thanking you for finding the time to come to Russia in these difficult Covid times.
We have been in constant contact since your inauguration, but of course, videoconferences and telephone conversations cannot replace personal meetings.
I would like to note that despite the pandemic we increased trade even the year before last. This increase was not big – over 6 percent, but it was still an increase. Last year, our trade grew by more than 38 percent. We are carrying out our major projects in many areas.
We closely cooperate in the international arena. We can say that our efforts largely helped the Syrian government overcome the threats linked with international terrorism. Now both you and we are concerned about the situation that is taking shape in Afghanistan. I would like to discuss all these issues with you and hear your position on these problems.
Putin: Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are developing relations on a temporary basis … We are doing much to create a long-term foundation for cooperation and a free trade area between Iran and our union. Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are developing relations on a temporary basis, under a temporary agreement. We are doing much to create a long-term foundation for cooperation and a free trade area between Iran and our union.
Iran plays a major role as an observer in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as well.
Finally, it is very important for me to know your position on the JCPOA.
In other words, we have a very extensive agenda. I am happy to see you.
As we begin our meeting, I would like to ask you to convey my very best wishes to your spiritual leader – Mr Khamenei. Welcome.
President of Iran Sayyid Ebrahim Raisi (retranslated): Thank you very much.
In the name of Rahman, I would like to thank you sincerely, Your Excellency, for inviting me to Moscow. I am very happy to have this meeting with you today.
Your Excellency, I would like to thank you for supporting the Islamic Republic of Iran in becoming a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. In foreign policy, the will of the Islamic Republic of Iran is in cooperation, full cooperation with countries, neighbouring countries in particular.
As for relations with the friendly Russian Federation, we want these relations to be sustainable and comprehensive. We can develop our relations in the economy, trade, politics, culture and all other areas that benefit our two countries and our two peoples. So, we can develop and expand bilateral cooperation in all of these areas.
We in the Islamic Republic of Iran have no restrictions on developing and expanding ties with friendly Russia and these ties will become strategic. Therefore, these relations will not be short-term or situational – they will be permanent and strategic.
I would like to say that in the current, exceptional conditions when unilateral actions by the West, including the US are being confronted, we can create synergy in our cooperation.
Raisi: We have a document on bilateral strategic cooperation, which may determine our future relations for the next 20 years. We have opposed the Americans for over 40 years and we will never stop progress and national development because of sanctions or threats. We are of course trying to have these sanctions lifted. We are working on different mechanisms, and our ultimate goal is to remove restrictions with their help.
We have had very good experience in cooperating with the Russian Federation in Syria. We were fighting terrorism in the region, in the Syrian Arab Republic through a concerted effort. We can use this positive experience in many other areas.
We have a document on bilateral strategic cooperation, which may determine our future relations for the next 20 years. At any rate, it can explain our prospects. This is why we have given this document to our Russian colleagues. We believe this document will certainly determine the long-term prospects for strategic cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation.
We are not content with our trade and economic ties in the current situation. Of course, we can increase the level of trade and economic cooperation several times over, including investment in trade and in the economy. We are working to raise the level of our cooperation in trade and the economy and to raise investment manifold.
I would like to say I hope that the agreements made by our colleagues during this visit will be developed further. I know that with your positive view of our cooperation you, Your Excellency, can help translate these agreements into reality. On my part, I intend to instruct my colleagues in the Islamic Republic of Iran to focus on developing practical cooperation that should produce the desired results.
Since I have been the head of our Government, I have been monitoring our plan to upgrade our diplomatic ties. Of course, we are working with the Russian Federation and its Foreign Ministry. Our colleagues are cooperating. They welcome this event, and I believe there are no barriers to constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation.
We also cooperate in regional organisations, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Eurasian Economic Union. Our ties are very deep. I think we can deepen them even further and take productive steps to promote our cooperation in this regard.
In think that in these conditions we can launch new cooperation in the economy, politics, culture, science, technology, the defence and military areas, security, and aviation and space, to name a few. We can develop a new level of cooperation in all these areas.
Raisi: I am at your service.I would like to convey to Your Excellency best regards on behalf of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khamenei. He also lays emphasis on the development and expansion of bilateral ties and the synergy that we can create together.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you.
You have a very extensive programme for your stay in Russia, many meetings and speeches. But we are not in any hurry today. We are not in a rush and we will have time to discuss all these issues in comfort. Then we will have lunch and can talk in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Thank you.
<…>
The leading Zone B countries seem to be solidifying their co-operation and alliances.
The Empire is set to fall well before its end date of Jan 20, 2025.
What’s so significant about that date [Jan 20, 2025]?
That is when the next US presidential term begins.
jiri
That is correct. It also shows the importance of Euro-Asia, as the English geographer Halford Mackinder pointed out in 1904. The West was doing it’s best to cause a rift between Russia and China. It failed.
>We have been in constant contact since your inauguration
Interesting
>despite the pandemic we increased trade over 6 percent
>Last year, our trade grew by more than 38 percent.
U$A: noooooooo. Sanction sanction sanction.
Also U$A…. Iran: No SWIFT for you.
>Cooperation … Syria and now Afghanistan
I would like to hear your position on these problems.
U$A: lol. We “dialogue” with our vassals. We talk. They listen
>it is very important for me to know your position on the JCPOA.
> You have a very extensive programmefor your stay in Russia, many meetings and speeches. But we are not in any hurry today. We are not in a rush and we will have time to discuss all these issues in comfort. Then we will have lunch and can talk in a more relaxed atmosphere.
So. Putin is making time to really get to know this guy. Like he did with Xi.
Remember them eating ice cream, or making pancakes together at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok?
Just like Blinken-idiot was floundering, not knowing what CSTO was, when Russia and Iran cooperate later, it’ll come as a surprise to the U$A.
All roads lead to Moscow. Everyone wants to speak to Mr Putin. The message is dropping – the west is dropping like a fly. Even Brazil’s Bolsonaro announced a visit to Moscow.
So, here we see the 3rd major pole of the multipolarity nicely come together. There will be more. China, Russia, Iran are planning joint Naval Exercises. Iranian experts recently traveled to Venezuela to start a coalition movement against and to overcome sanctions.
This is an extremely important event. More important than signing $400 Billion deal with China. One of the current feedstock of the hysterics and screeching in western MSM.
▪︎Iran is coming out of the cold – and seen standing back to back with Earth’s dominant military power. A key node of BRI and civilization being hardened against sea pirates
▪︎very powerful image of praying in the Kremlin and being personally hosted by President Putin sans muzzle will send shock waves worldwide. Speaking at the Duma will be the icing
▪︎Asian Powers and civilizational states are seen to plot a calm and dignified course for their peoples, even surrounded by war clouds
▪︎Russia facilitates Sunni-Shiite reconciliation, by gathering predominantly Sunni Russians (with increasing cache in Sunni world) with the world political leader of Shiites
▪︎Syed Raisi is the right leader for the times – a proponent of Resistance and Sovereignty, not in pointless accommodations, thus taking part of the baton from Soleimani
▪︎As a descendant of the Islamic Prophet, Syed Raisi is respected even by those Sunnis brainwashed by Salafi PR; a tremendous vehicle for changing Divide & Conquer narratives in West Asia.
The initiative is there, if the moment can be seized.
> A key node of BRI and civilisation
Yes. The original Silk Road was Persia China.
With Italy as a link into the waterways of Europe.
Interesting to see history and how the emerging “new world” will trace over lines of the “ancient” world.
Not a single word about this on RT.
This isn’t factually correct.
RT is covering it on their tv channel – Murad Gazdiev even had an exclusive interview with President Raisi, the first foreign press to have an interview with him. Whilst the anchorman was interviewing Murad, on the side panel – they also showed him entering the State Duma to a great reception and talking to the lawmakers. This was about 10 minutes ago.
Their website is not very good – but the TV channel is much better and covers/shows a lot more. You can watch live on the website and even go backwards and view earlier content.
https://www.rt.com/on-air/
I meant the website – and am making the same point – it is not very good. It is the website that is much more important and more easily accessed.
Here is the interview with President Raisi – currently the top story on the website:
https://www.rt.com/news/546686-iranian-president-raisi-nuclear/
“It was the US that violated the nuclear pact, and the US that must fix it, President Raisi says:
Iran took the Vienna negotiations on restoring the 2015 nuclear agreement “very seriously,” President Ebrahim Raisi told RT in an exclusive interview. He added that the barrier to restoring the treaty remains Washington’s refusal to abide by its terms.
“What we have seen so far is a violation of obligations on the part of the Americans,” Raisi told RT’s Murad Gazdiev in the interview that aired Thursday…….”
The interview covers various topics in addition to the JCPOA. Worth watching.
The Presstv website is carrying this as their top story. Since this is possibly a historic meeting, there are two possibilities: RT are irreparably incompetent or are deliberately ignoring the visit to please somebody. Either way, it is disrespectful to president Raisi.
Two words – Margarita Simonyan. She is a perfect example of why Russia is not as strong as many of you think. She was trained by American intelligence agencies via “Future Leaders Exchange”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_Leaders_Exchange – Notice her name.
How is she not an Agent of America?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U4z6rhIvyQ
RT is also very anti-Islamic. Always promoting filth and questioning Kadyrov (who is the ONE leader in Russia who sounds like commenters on this board).
Margarita is fond of saying that Americans and Russians share the same values and sense of humor! Those programs make sure to hammer that point home. I have heard the same words from others who have attended US-sponsored events.
Raisi’s address to the Russian Duma. No transcript is available yet, but we will post it when available.
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/01/20/675148/Raeisi-Duma-Iran-Russia-US-dominance-resistance-sanctions-
In addition: Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says the Iranian and Russian presidents have tasked the top diplomats of the two countries with working out a roadmap for cooperation over the next two decades.
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/01/20/675139/Amir-Abdollahian-Iran-Russia-Raeisi-Putin-20-year-cooperation-roadmap-televised-interview
I sincerely hope that they’d finalize a roadmap for the canal which would connect the Caspian Sea to the Indian Ocean. It had been proposed some time ago but had been stalled due to political instability in the region.
If initiated, that’d be a game changing project which would provide Russia access to the Indian Ocean.
Dear Man,
This is the dream.
https://dxczjjuegupb.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Iranian-Canal-Proposed-768×700.jpg
A way to link countless railroad tracks and internally controlled sea lanes within Asia directly to the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean .. It is a far bigger project than merely a warm water port for Russia..
Will the Turkish nations finally side with multipolarity? They are the essential glue in the middle. If not, they will be left behind like the EU.
The British fought this integration bitterly, by hook or crook, for centuries. World wars were fought over it, and the 1850s Crimean War.
I do not think it is realizable while London exists as an influence on Earth.
But we appear to be in the end game, where ancient scores are being settled, and where the sun is setting on Oceania.
Perhaps peace will have a chance thereafter.
Regards
Thanks A.H.H.
I happened to read a report about this project some time ago but couldn’t find it. If you have a link, please be kind to share.
Man,
Here is one discussion: https://newcoldwar.org/russia-iran-negotiate-canal-caspian-sea-persian-gulf/
we had discussions on this a few months ago, with an excellent primer by Pepe, even more relevant now since Kazakh coup attempt.
/new-great-game-in-the-caucasus-and-central-asia/
The 2018 Aktau treaty, “The new Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea” helped settle many long-standing disputes among littoral countries. It now opens up this desired transit to “High Seas”, and thus connections between northern and southern Asian landmass, avoiding SLOCs such as Suez and Gibraltar.
This is the Aktau treaty (also in Pepe article above):
https://www.freshfields.com/en-gb/our-thinking/knowledge/briefing/2018/11/the-new-convention-on-the-legal-status-of-the-caspian-sea-new-opportunities-and-new-challenges-3848/
Please note this section of the treaty:
“Beyond the question of the legal status of the Caspian Sea, the Convention also regulates passage to and from the Caspian Sea. It recognises the rights of all the Parties to access other seas and the ocean freely from the Caspian Sea, and to access for the Parties from other seas and the ocean to the Caspian Sea. This right of access may be exercised through freedom of transit by all means of transport through the territories of transit parties. 𝘼𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙜𝙚𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙝𝙮, 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙍𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄𝙧𝙖𝙣 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨, 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙎𝙚𝙖, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙎𝙚𝙖, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙖 (𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙍𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙖’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩), 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘 𝙊𝙘𝙚𝙖𝙣, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙂𝙪𝙡𝙛. The three other contracting States are “landlocked” other than their access to the Caspian.”
Like you, I anticipate this canal will be among the points raised by President Syed Raisi, such as where he says above, “…As for relations with the friendly Russian Federation, we want these relations to be sustainable and comprehensive. We can develop our relations in the economy, trade, politics, culture and all other areas that benefit our two countries and our two peoples … [t]herefore, these relations will not be short-term or situational – they will be permanent and strategic.”
Very exciting times ahead.
Very exciting indeed.
This might help to explain the growing Iran/Saudi dialogue, seeming to foreshadow a thaw in relations in the future.
If such a canal existed, it would enable Russia to ferry warships to a part of the high seas that is the most remote from America. Sure there are forward bases in Diego Garcia, the Persian gulf, etc., but those are east targets for the kind of missiles on Russian warships. Such a development would imply America’s place in the maritime balance of power would be reduced in relative terms.
This means the US is less valuable to Saudi Arabia – and Iran (owner of canal), Russia (new sherif on high seas), and China (largest buyer of oil exports) are more valuable to them.
Money talks and BS walks.
I’m hoping for the canal through Iran and also for the Turkic countries to align with the east, making it all work smoothly. I think that geopolitical architecture is suitable for the long haul.
I think Putin has finally concluded that he cannot build a working relationship with the West like he thought he could do when he became President in 1999-2000.
Putin back then (2000) truly believed he could build a relationship of equals with the West. There was a time when there was talk of an economic block running from Lisbon to Vladivostok.
I think he’s finally given up and is focused on the Eurasian Economic Union along with the BRT initiative. Actually this was one of the causes of Maidan. The Western Europeans and Americans were out to make sure that Ukraine never joined the Eurasian Economic Union that Putin has been trying to build.
I like how they address each other, and convey their greetings. With mutual respect. These are two great nations whose leaders speak like gentlemen. Frank, open and honest discussions.
You can see Raisi saying that he wants their relationship to be more strategic and permanent as opposed to situational. There is no round about language and empty feel good phrases here. Just straight, honest, respectful talk among two gentlemen who happen to be leaders of great countries.
Interesting that it was actually Putin who invited Raisi to Moscow. I wonder what this means on a deeper level. Perhaps Putin is fortifying his Eastern and Southern Flank in anticipation of what NATO might be after Friday.
Also, it could be that Raisi knows that Israel, with America’s support is about to start a war with Iran coz of Iran’s hardline on the JPCOA.
Also, there is now talk of Biden banning the export of semiconductors and integrated chips to Russia. I wonder how the Russian microelectronic industry is. I sure hope that they are self reliant in that area, especially when it comes to microelectronics used for their weapons system.
Your observation about Israhell is correct. Since the beginning of this year the hotheads in Israhell have been claiming that Iran is 8-10 weeks away from having a nuclear weapon. This is building pretexts for an attack.
Netanyahu had been saying this for years. He said by end of 2018 Iran will have a nuclear weapon. How many times can a boy cry wolf before people dismiss him?
As COVID narrative falls apart they will take us to war…said Dr Marc Faber on Stansberry Research on YouTube 3 months ago.
We can see UK has lifted all Covid certificate and mask mandates…perhaps to salvage Boris’ coming no confidence vote.
Any wonder why UK is sending more weapons to Ukraine to harden NATO false stance/claim that Russia will invade Ukraine? But Germany didn’t allow those flights over German airspace.
Germany knows not to get entangled in British deep state conspiracies (but continue to deepen business relationship with the Motherland) started the WWI not to allow Germany to get ahesd of UK in business, when Germany almost completed the Busra-Berlin rail line to transport crude oil, except the last 300 km from Baghdad to Busra.
The Zionist international bankers’ lust for warmongering, money and power knows no limits. Part of the WWI intrigue was to get Palestine with the Balfour declaration signed in Nov 1917.
Hopefully, Russia, China and Iran will finally put a stop to the international bankers’ intrigue and warmongering.
@ Allan on January 20, 2022
“I think Putin has finally concluded that he cannot build a working relationship with the West like he thought he could do when he became President in 1999-2000…”
A good point, among others you make in your thoughtful post.
We are privileged (hopefully we will survive the privilege) to be witnessing the tectonic plates of power from the corrupt, chaotic, fake, and phony “Old-World Order” moving east to a New World Order. What Russia has created is a geopolitical tsunami, and we can hear the sucking sounds of water retreating from the shore (security draft proposals), before the giant wave returns to take away the Old-World Order.
Your assertion is right, Russia finally arrived at the conclusion “old bastard Europe” (Trotsky) is done for, and any hope of a rearrangement in Eurostan that includes Russia’s security needs, is impossible. A new sun is rising in the East, and Russia, China, Iran, and others, will be working for the creation of a new reality under that sun. Iran signed last March a 25-year long-term Cooperation Program, or Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China, and now just presented Russia with a 20-year Agreement draft for Strategic Cooperation, to replace the 2001 agreement.
Worth notice that Putin invited Raisi to visit in the middle of a historical, acute confrontation with the West, and before his visit to China, Feb. 4, where he and Xi would sign volumes of agreements between Russia and China. A new Triangle of Resistance is born, that implies not only opposition to US/Eurostan policies, but a vast and virgin trade zone interlinked by a multiple network of railways, highways, and sea lanes (BRI, ITI, et al), with a potential market of billions of people.
That is the West desperation, and we can see an example of their heightened anxiety in the Kazakhstan debacle. The West is not stupid, they can see their decline, but giving up their position within the “Old-World Order” would mean for the planet to start marching east, looking up for the new sun rising. The West will fight for every inch of their power, not to lose their privileges, based on oppression and exploitation of weaker countries. Ukraine is the axis of the East/West contradiction for now, and as Saker said somewhere, the West is willing to fight for “Western values” to the last Ukrainian.
Hopefully, the new sun will not be a red sun, but I am now beginning to lose hope the West will understand they already lost without someone making them understand their untenable position.
Still, let us hope for the best…
Lone Wolf
PS: As always, thanks to Saker & his hard working team for keeping us abreast of important developments in Russia.
If this is what isolation looks like then everyone will be after it.