Kateryna Chornovol22:21, 14.01.25

The draft treaty went through “20-30 rounds” of negotiations, and the entire process took about four to five years, one of the sources said.

Iran has refused to recognize occupied Crimea and other “disputed territories” as Russian in the new Comprehensive Partnership Agreement  for the next 20 years, which is to be signed in Moscow on January 17.

Middle East Eye reports this, citing a correspondent in Tehran and informed sources. At the same time, the point about territorial integrity is one of the key provisions of this document. And it is very important for Iran, given the dispute with the UAE over the islands in the Persian Gulf, which Iran has controlled since 1971.

In addition, both countries commit to oppose illegal extraterritorial sanctions, including secondary sanctions by the United States, and to support each other in international forums. The agreement has 47 articles in total. They cover various areas of “comprehensive cooperation” – from cybersecurity and peaceful nuclear energy to counterterrorism and defense issues.

In particular, the document talks about training military specialists and implementing joint initiatives. However, more specific details of these projects, as a source in the Iranian government says, will require coordination in the future.

The document also contains a clause that prohibits both sides from supporting aggressors against each other, as well as allowing the use of the territory of one party to the treaty for attacks on the other side.

One of the publication’s sources also noted that the draft agreement had gone through “20-30 rounds” of negotiations. The entire process lasted approximately 4-5 years. However, the document still requires approval by the Iranian parliament.

It is noteworthy that earlier the head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Hossein Amir Abdollahian noted that Tehran does not recognize Crimea, as well as the occupied parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as Russian territory.

“We stand for the observance of international law and the territorial integrity of all countries. Despite good relations between Tehran and Moscow, Iran does not recognize the annexation of Crimea and other territories of Ukraine,” he said in an interview with Turkey’s TRT World.

The Foreign Minister added that Iran condemns military conflicts in Syria, Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq and also opposes “the war and displacement of people” in Ukraine.

(C)UNIAN 2025