Iran and Russia sign comprehensive cooperation agreement to strengthen military, security, and cyber ties

An agreement signed between Iran and Russia last week outlines commitments to enhance military, security, cyber and technological cooperation between the two nations. The comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, signed in Moscow by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, seeks to deepen bilateral relations and includes specific provisions for cooperation in cybersecurity and internet regulation.

The agreement aims to counter the use of information and communication technologies for criminal activities and includes plans to exchange expertise on managing national internet infrastructure. The text also adds that two countries will ‘promote the establishment of a United Nations-led system for ensuring international information security and the creation of a legally binding regime for the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts, based on the principles of sovereign equality and non-interference in the internal affairs of states’.

The agreement emphasises strengthening sovereignty and state-centric approach to international information security and internet governance. Other key commitments on cybersecurity also include:

• Expanding joint efforts to combat the criminal misuse of ICTs, exchanging expertise, and promoting sovereignty in the international information domain.
• Advocating for the internationalization of internet governance, equal rights for states in managing internet segments, and rejecting limitations on national sovereignty in regulating and securing the internet.
• Enhancing sovereignty through regulating global ICT companies, sharing expertise on internet management, developing ICT infrastructure, and advancing digital development.