The diplomatic relations between the countries date back to May 20, 1920 when the RSFSR and Persian Governments exchanged mutual recognition notes. However, officially they kicked off in 1921 after the Soviet-Iranian Treaty of Friendship had been signed. The bilateral document was ratified in Tehran on February 26, 1922 and registered in the League of Nations on June 7, 1922.

On December 25, 1991, Iran expressed its desire to continue contacts with Russia as the successor to the USSR.

A significant contribution to strengthening the legal and contractual basis of bilateral ties of Russia and Iran is the Treaty of Fundamentals of Relations and Principles of Cooperation of March 12, 2001 signed by the Presidents in Moscow. The document came into force on April 5, 2002.

The Presidents also meet at the SCO Council of Heads of States, CICMA summit, and Caspian summit. As regular are contacts between heads of ministries and agencies.

Comprising the bedrock of military and technical cooperation are the agreements signed between the Governments in 1989-1991.

In 1990-1996, Iran received S-200VE SAM systems, MiG-29 fighters, Su-24MK tactical bombers, Mi-17 helicopters, as well as diesel-electric submarines, and other weapons from Russia.

The cooling of ties with Iran that followed was attributed to the U.S.-prompted sanctions against the Islamic country.

During the October 2001 visit of an Iranian delegation led by Minister of Defense Ali Shahmani, an Intergovernmental Agreement on Military and Technical Cooperation was signed.

The same year witnessed the inception of an Intergovernmental Committee on Military and Technical Cooperation. In 2002-2005, Russia delivered to Iran a batch of Mi helicopters. In 2003-2006, Iran received Su-type attack aircraft. In December 2005, Russia and Iran signed a deal for supply of Tor-M1 SAM systems and ammunition for them. Having fulfilled its obligations in 2007 under the contract, Russia became the major arms exporter to Iran. Its share accounted for around 85 percent of the total weapons imported by the Islamic partner.

The Russian-Iranian military and technical cooperation is entirely consistent with current international laws and regulations.

Iran hosts a representative office of Rostec, Russia’s state corporation, that also projects Rosoboronexport’s interests in the country. Telephone number of the office: (+98912) 108-45-74, fax: (+9821) 6670-51-49, e-mail: rep4320@rostec.ru