Valdai Club

On June 26, 2019, the Valdai Discussion Club will host the 3rd Russian-Iranian Dialogue in Moscow, in partnership with the Tehran Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS). Iran is a rapidly developing state; its role in regional and world politics is visibly growing. The bilateral Russian-Iranian dialogue will be dedicated to the problems of strategic partnership between Russia and Iran, as well as to the analysis of the international situation as viewed by Moscow and Tehran. The experts will discuss the state of affairs in the global energy market, the end of the war in Syria, and cooperation within the framework of the Russia-Iran-Turkey triangle.

Programme of the 3rd Russia-Iran Dialogue of the

Valdai Discussion Club in partnership with the 

Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS)

Moscow, June 26, 2019

10:00 – 10:30   Welcome Coffee

10:30 – 10:45   Opening of the Iran-Russia Dialogue

(Open for Media)

• Andrey BYSTRITSKIY, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club

• Zamir KABULOV, Second Asian Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia

• Seyed Kazem SAJJADPOUR, President, Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS)

• Mehdi SANAEI, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Russian Federation

10:45 – 12:15   Session 1. International Situation Seen from Russia and Iran

Tensions between the United States and the European Union over the Iranian nuclear programme. Situation on the international energy market. The impact of sanctions and trade barriers on the structure of the world economy. The United States’ pressure on China and the formation of political blocs in the world as a current trend.

12:30 – 14:00   Session 2. Situation in the Middle East

The end of the Syrian war and the tasks at the new stage. A potential donor conference on reconstruction. The role of the United States in the regional affairs. Estimating cooperation in the Russia–Iran–Turkey triangle. Outlook for Afghanistan in the context of reducing the United States’ presence in the country.

15:00 – 16:30   Session 3. Russian-Iranian Relations

The development of strategic relations between the two countries and the impact of external factors. Prospects of forming the North-South transport corridor. Trade and economic relations and energy cooperation in the conditions of sanctions. Potential opportunities brought by the new EU special purpose vehicle to facilitate trade with Iran under the JCPOA. Situation in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

16:45 – 17:45   Final round-up press conference

• Seyed Kazem SAJJADPOUR, President, Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS)

• Andrey BYSTRITSKIY, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club

• Fyodor LUKYANOV, Research director of the Valdai Discussion Club, Chairman, Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, Editor-in-Chief, Russia in Global Affairs journal

• Mehdi SANAEI, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Russian Federation