Russia and Iran
Economic, civilian nuclear and political cooperation expanded through a strategic partnership treaty. The trade agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union also plays a role. Each instrument's scope must be distinguished from an automatic defence alliance and announced projects.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-07 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07Signature, ratification and entry into force
The Russian legal register identifies the treaty signed on 17 January 2025, its ratification by an April law and its entry into force on 2 October.
A trade agreement with Eurasian scope
The Eurasian Economic Commission confirms that the full free trade agreement with Iran entered into force on 15 May 2025.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | ||
| Goods: Russia to Iran | ||
| Goods: Iran to Russia | ||
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Russia to Iran | ||
| Export share: Iran to Russia | ||
| Investment stock: Russia in Iran | ||
| Investment stock: Iran in Russia |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
| Indicator | Russia | Iran |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 2.59 trillion USDIMF est.2025 · IMF | 362.68 billion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 17,972.12 USDIMF est.2025 · IMF | 3,924.38 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 1 %2025 · WB | -2.83 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | 14 %2026-09-11 · CBR | |
| Inflation · annual average | 8.72 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | 42.17 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 6.33 %Year-on-year · Aug. 2026 · CBR | |
| Unemployment | 2.13 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 8.3 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -3.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -5.7 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 17.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 37.3 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 1.68 %2025 · WB | 0.6 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Population | 143,997,000IMF est.2025 · IMF | 92,417,6812025 · WB |
| Area | 17,125,190 km²2023 · BM / FAO | 1,745,150 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
For Russia, GDP, population and GDP per capita are estimates from the same IMF (WEO) dataset for 2025. The per-capita figure published by the IMF is used, rather than a calculation of our own. The earlier World Bank series could not be reconciled and are not mixed with this dataset. Review: 2026-10-07. IMF data terms of use0
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDRussia: 2025 · Nominal GDP in current USD · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · IMF estimate (WEO). GDP, GDP per capita and population for this country come from the same WEO query for 2025; no separate GDP-per-capita figure has been calculated.Iran: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personRussia: 2025 · Nominal GDP per capita in current USD · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · IMF estimate (WEO). GDP, GDP per capita and population for this country come from the same WEO query for 2025; no separate GDP-per-capita figure has been calculated.Iran: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Russia: 2025 · World BankIran: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)Russia: 2026-09-11 · Bank of Russia policy rate · Bank of Russia
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Russia: 2025 · Annual average change in CPI (%) · World BankIran: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedRussia: 2026-08 · Change in headline CPI from the same month of the previous year (%) · Bank of Russia · Published: 2026-09-16 · Year-on-year CPI. The commentary's 6.9% is annualised seasonally adjusted monthly growth and is not used here.
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionRussia: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.Iran: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, % of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)Russia: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.Iran: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Russia: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.Iran: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPRussia: 2025 · World BankIran: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate. The annual reference may follow Iran's fiscal calendar.
- Population
- PeopleRussia: 2025 · Population from the WEO series; do not mix with a denominator from another source · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · IMF estimate (WEO). GDP, GDP per capita and population for this country come from the same WEO query for 2025; no separate GDP-per-capita figure has been calculated.Iran: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceRussia: 2023 · Total area, including inland waters; territorial coverage as defined by the source · World Bank · FAOIran: 2023 · World Bank / FAO · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
Russia to Iran
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Iran to Russia
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Connections between people
Economic and technical projects involve training and professional contacts; general student or migration figures are not inferred from them. [2] [3]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Russia living in Iran | ||
| Residents from Iran living in Russia | ||
| Study and training: Russia in Iran | ||
| Study and training: Iran in Russia | ||
| Academic stays: Russia in Iran | ||
| Academic stays: Iran in Russia | ||
| Travel: Russia to Iran | ||
| Travel: Iran to Russia |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
Signature, ratification and entry into force
The Russian legal register identifies the treaty signed on 17 January 2025, its ratification by an April law and its entry into force on 2 October. These are three different moments. The instrument provides a strategic partnership framework, not a statistical measure of all exchanges. A specific obligation must be established from its articles, rather than inferring automatic military assistance solely from its title. [1]
A trade agreement with Eurasian scope
The Eurasian Economic Commission confirms that the full free trade agreement with Iran entered into force on 15 May 2025. Russia participates as a Union member alongside other States. Trade conditions therefore belong to a multilateral instrument, although they affect Russian–Iranian exchanges. The entire Union's trade with Iran is not placed in a cell intended exclusively for the Russia–Iran pair. [2]
Bushehr and civilian nuclear cooperation
The IAEA profile records one operating unit at Bushehr, with 915 MW net, and dates its commercial operation to 2013. It also describes construction of other units with their own phases. These data concern civilian electricity generation: they are not evidence of nuclear weapons transfers or an additional power plant already operating. The distinction between a unit under construction and one producing electricity is essential. [3]
Economic schedules distinct from the political framework
The new strategic framework and trade treaty can facilitate projects, but do not by themselves provide a realised bilateral investment stock or export flow. The Commission describes business contacts to implement the agreement; the nuclear profile details technical stages. The economic relationship requires examining those activities separately. The value of construction, the amount of a loan and goods crossing the border in one year are not added as a single quantity. [2] [3]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-07
The two institutional changes of 2025
Both the partnership treaty and the Eurasian trade agreement with Iran entered into force in 2025. Their scopes and parties differ: one is bilateral and the other involves an economic union. The profile retains their dates and does not attribute completion of every project to the diplomatic announcement. Comparing subsequent outcomes requires statistics with the same coverage, alongside verifying implementation of each instrument. [1] [2]
Milestones and consequences
- 2013
Bushehr commercial operation
Start of commercial operation of the first unit according to the IAEA. [3]
- 2025-01-17
Treaty signing
Bilateral strategic partnership. [1]
- 2025-05-15
Trade agreement
Entry into force of the Iran–Eurasian Union framework. [2]
- 2025-10-02
Treaty in force
Date published in the Russian legal register. [1]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Each figure retains its period, currency, definition and source. Blank cells are not zero. Policy documents are distinguished from statistical results, and projects under way from announcements.
- Comprehensive strategic partnership treaty
Official Russian legal register · Institutional source · Document: 2025-10-02 · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Implementation of the trade agreement with Iran
Eurasian Economic Commission · Institutional source · Document: 2025 · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Country Nuclear Power Profile: Iran
OIEA · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07