On April 14-15, 2012, Iran hosted the scientific and practical conference "Prospects for Cooperation between Russia and Iran on the horizon 2025", which was attended by political scientists, economists, lawyers, historians, literary critics, university teachers from Russia and Iran, as well as employees of practical organizations. The Russian delegation included experts from major research and training centers: IB RAS, IMEMO RAS, International Academy for Future Research, MGIMO(U) Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Academy of Law, RUDN University, Universities of Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Tomsk, Pyatigorsk and Ufa. The Iranian side was represented by scientists and teachers from the University of Tehran, Imam Khomeini International University in Qazvin, Imam Hossein University, and the Institute of the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

In recent years, much attention has been paid to the development of Russian-Iranian relations both in Russia and in Iran. With a high level of political cooperation between the two countries and active diplomatic contacts, the level of interaction in the economy, the development of cultural ties, and scientific exchange remains quite low. Representatives of research centers of the two countries have long expressed interest in joint discussion of problems and opportunities for cooperation between Russia and Iran. The Imam Khomeini International University and the International Academy of the Future took the initiative to hold a meeting of specialists in this field. The Technology Development Center under the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Moscow and the Governor of Qazvin Province A. Ajam directly assisted in the preparation and holding of this event.

Imam Khomeini International University in Qazvin, where the conference was held, is one of the country's largest educational and research centers established after the Islamic Revolution. Its task is to train highly qualified national personnel, train young people from Islamic and other countries, familiarize them with Islamic values and scientific and technical achievements of Iran, and develop international scientific contacts. Currently, the university has 8 thousand students, of whom more than a thousand came from other countries. This was stated at the opening ceremony of the conference by the Rector of the International University L. Al-Buye, who headed the scientific Council of the conference. He stressed the special importance of developing friendly relations between Iran and Russia, which have rich historical traditions, and noted that the purpose of the conference is to analyze possible options for deepening cooperation between the two countries. A. Al-Buye expressed hope that the ideas and proposals expressed at the conference will be of interest to the political and business community, foreign policy structures, etc. other practical organizations.

Governor-General of Qazvin Province A. Ajam, Member of the Parliament of Khojat ol-Islam M. H. Abutarabifard, Russian Ambassador to Iran L. S. Dzhagaryan, Deputy Minister of Science, Research and Technology A. Gorbani addressed the forum participants with welcoming speeches.

The plenary session of the conference was opened by M. Sanai, a member of Parliament, Head of the Department of Russian Studies at the University of Tehran. He noted that in recent decades, relations with Russia have been considered a priority for Iran's foreign policy activities. Relations with Iran were equally important for Russia. However, their development continued to be negatively affected by several factors. So, in the memory of the Iranian people, stereotypes about Russia have been preserved: Colonization activities in Iran of tsarist Russia and Soviet support for democratic movements, pro-communist organizations, the introduction of Soviet troops into the territory of Iran during the Second World War and the Cold War period. The lack of complete trust complicates the development of relations at the present stage. Relations between the two countries are also affected by the policies of "third" countries, primarily the United States. American influence is evident at the international and regional levels. Nevertheless, the interests of the two countries are gradually converging, primarily in the Middle East region, which gives us hope for a good future.

Addressing the researchers and teachers participating in the conference, M. Sanai stressed the importance of their activities for strengthening ties between the two countries. Studying and teaching each other's language, literature, history, culture, and religion contributes to a better understanding of the two peoples. The arrival of young people who are proficient in the language, are familiar with the traditions and psychology of neighboring peoples, and are well versed in political and economic issues, free from historical prejudices, will open up new prospects in relations between Iran and Russia.

As a member of the Mejlis, M. Sanai emphasized the influence of the parliament on the development of the foreign policy strategy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including in relation to Russia. Constant contacts between the parliamentarians of the two countries contribute to the interaction of states in the coming years.

The moderator of the plenary session, A. I. Ageev, Head of the Russian branch of the International Academy for Future Research, spoke about the training at the Academy on a special methodology of the strategic matrix, which allows you to model scenarios for the development of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Describing the main directions and some parameters of the country's development in the future, which indicate an increase in the combined power of Iran in the region, he noted that in the near future, Russia and Iran will continue to have common interests in a number of areas, in particular in strategic partnership. Nevertheless, in order to solve a number of regional and international problems, both States must demonstrate a high level of trust and cooperation.

The topic" Architecture of global security " was considered by the Head of the Department of General History of RUDN University S. A. Voronin. The events of the "Arab Spring" and the escalation of tensions over Iran's nuclear program show that the unipolar model of the world order is no longer acceptable. Events in the Middle East mark the beginning of Operation Long War under the new NATO concept. Iran, whose theocratic model of development demonstrates stability, success and support of the majority of the electorate, acts as an irritant for the West, because it does not fit into its schemes of introducing liberal democracy. On this basis

The regime in Iran is declared dictatorial and illegitimate. Accordingly, those who support this state, develop trade, cultural and military cooperation with it, become the object of criticism, and sometimes even accused of aiding terrorism. This statement primarily applies to Russia, whose positions are becoming an increasingly significant and fundamental element of modern international relations.

S. A. Voronin noted that it is impossible to impose a universal system of political values on the world. The decision to choose the path must be independently formed in the bowels of the consciousness of each nation. The architecture of the future concept of global security should follow the path of strengthening multipolarity, strengthening regional centers of power, forming a balance of power, a system of checks and balances. One of the ways to establish a real civilizational dialogue is the West's refusal to dominate within the framework of globalization, from the policy of humanitarian intervention, from imposing on traditional societies unnecessary and mentally unacceptable models of liberal capitalism and its accompanying democratic transit.

O. N. Barabanov (Higher School of Economics; MGIMO(U)) considered the topic of transformation of the world order. MINISTRY OF Foreign Affairs OF THE Russian Federation). The inefficiency of Western-centric models of managing the global economy and politics, the use of armed force in international relations, and the development of an alternative model of international cooperation and global regulation, which was based on the creation of the BRICS in 2008, are the main reasons that led to a profound transformation of the world order. Naturally, the ongoing changes also affect the nature of relations between Iran and Russia. One of the most important consequences of the formation of new international institutions, such as BRICS, O. N. Barabanov called the formation of a new system of values, which provides an opportunity for international support for Iran in its struggle against American pressure. In this regard, they stressed the strengthening of Russia's focus after the 2012 presidential election on actively countering the unilateral dominance of the United States and NATO in world affairs.

M. R. Eywazi, Head of the Foresight Group at Imam Khomeini University, noted that the modern world is a world of competition and development of relations, the emergence of new technologies that generate new opportunities and challenges. Strategic forecasting is necessary to evaluate and benefit from these new opportunities. It should be based, on the one hand, on an assessment of goals and objectives, and, on the other, on an analysis of the domestic and international situation.

Russia is perceived in Iran as a neighboring state. The development of relations between these two countries over several centuries has had a strong impact on the system of intra-regional and international relations. After the Islamic Revolution, Russian-Iranian cooperation has a high political significance and is constantly in the field of view of the international community. Relations between the two countries can contribute to strengthening internal security in each of the states and on the world stage, and influence most of the current regional processes. The common interests of the two states, while maintaining the priority of security issues, will contribute to the achievement of their strategic goals at the regional and global levels.

Professor of the Russian Academy of Justice, President of the Law of Peace Center I. A. Umnova emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two states at the international level in order to update and fill with new content the mechanisms for ensuring the protection of peace and security. The geopolitical and economic situation of both countries shows that there are ample opportunities for implementing their joint peacekeeping missions. A promising area of cooperation is related to the promotion by the peoples of the two countries of the idea of adopting charters on the protection of peace at the level of the UN, regional international organizations and individual states.

V. I. Sotnikov (IB RAS) devoted his speech to the problem of analyzing the opportunities and threats that Russia and Iran will face until 2025. The growing presence of transnational actors in the Middle East and Persian Gulf region will have a significant impact on the development of the situation, which, on the one hand, may lead to new challenges and threats for Iran and Russia, and on the other, this factor will open up new opportunities for expanding and strengthening relations between the two countries as natural allies and partners. According to V. I. Sotnikov, it is necessary to intensify contacts between the presidents of both countries and raise the issue of Iran's admission to the SCO as a full-fledged member.

member of the organization, create permanent working groups of representatives of the two countries on military and political cooperation, regional security issues, etc.

A. A. Purazzat (University of Tehran) noted that relations between Russia and Iran went through periods of boom and bust, and some historically formed prejudices of the peoples of the two countries were reflected in national folklore. According to the speaker, the basis for the development of stable relations between Russia and Iran can be the coincidence of their interests in regional security issues. Strengthening cooperation in this area will help improve Russia's image in the eyes of the Iranian people. The future of relations between the two countries will depend on how the people of Iran will perceive Russia and evaluate its policies, and how much they will trust it.

V. A. Nadein-Rayevsky (IMEMO RAS), D. S. Puryzhinsky (Research Institute of International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences) discussed threats to the strategic interests of Russia and Iran in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Center of the Federal Drug Control Service of the Russian Federation), A. S. Matveev (post-graduate student of Lobachevsky State University). Noting the interest of Russia and Iran in maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, V. A. Nadein-Rayevsky stressed the relevance of mutual cooperation in the fight against global terrorism. Russia has to constantly fight against terrorist groups of "Wahhabis"or " Salafis". Iran is facing the terrorist activities of the separatist group Jundallah. Coordination of the actions of the Russian and Iranian law enforcement agencies in the fight against the terrorist threat can increase the effectiveness of the anti-terrorist struggle. The speaker stressed the importance of joint work of the two countries to ensure the environmental security of the Caspian Sea and ensure effective economic activity in this basin.

The speaker also called drug trafficking a dangerous challenge to the strategic interests of the two countries. D. Puryzhinsky spoke in detail about the joint struggle of Russia and Iran against this threat. Increasing drug production in Afghanistan requires increased regional cooperation. He also mentioned the implementation of joint projects for the socio-economic development of Afghanistan through the industrialization and electrification of this country, the introduction of new technologies and the construction of infrastructure facilities. M. Bozorgmehri (Imam Khomeini University) spoke about the need to coordinate the efforts of the two countries in the fight against the terrorist threat.

Director of the Institute for Political and Social Studies of the Black Sea-Caspian region V. A. Zakharov considered the threats posed to Russia and Iran by the expansion of NATO to the East.

The problems of cooperation between the two countries in the field of security were discussed in his speech by J. R. R. Tolkien. Karami (University of Tehran). He noted that in the relations between Russia and Iran over the past two decades, much attention has been paid to military-technical cooperation and strengthening regional security. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the changing geopolitical situation in the region, new conflicts constantly arise, which threatens the security of both Iran and Russia. This situation requires the development of new forms of cooperation between States in order to counter new challenges and threats. The supply of military equipment and defensive weapons to Iran, cooperation against the Taliban in Afghanistan, efforts to restore peace in Tajikistan, and Iran's support for Moscow's policies in Chechnya and Dagestan are examples of such cooperation. Russia was recognized as the most profitable partner of Iran in restoring the military-defensive potential of the Islamic Republic after the end of the Iran-Iraq War. As a result, Iran became the third buyer of Russian-made weapons and military equipment after China and India. Karami noted that despite the development of cooperation between the two countries, it is still too early to talk about the strength of relations between the Russian Federation and Iran.

A separate session was devoted to the issues of cooperation between the two countries in the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea. This topic was reflected in the speeches of A.M. Draganov (Research Institute of Strategic Research. Caucasus), I. A. Selezneva (Institute of Socio-Political Studies). research. RAS), B. Nawazani (Imam Khomeini University in Qazvin), A. R. Kasai (Institute of Foreign Affairs of Iran). The speakers emphasized the geopolitical, geo-economic and geostrategic importance of this region, which attracts the attention of the world's leading players and becomes an arena of their confrontation. A. R. Kasai noted that the conflicts that persist in this region can deepen and go beyond existing borders, which cannot but affect the development of relations between the Russian Federation and the United States.-

sii and IRI. It is important, in his opinion, to combine the efforts of the two states to create a single regional association in the future in the interests of Russia and Iran.

B. Nawazani, emphasizing the historical and cultural proximity of the Caucasus and Iran, drew attention to the fact that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the unresolved legal problems in the Caspian Sea, even in conditions when Iran is in international isolation, reproduce threats to its security and territorial integrity. The unresolved nature of these problems reinforces the tendencies of nationalism and separatism in the region.

Igor Seleznev noted that the development of joint projects for the development of the Caspian Sea basin will lead to strengthening relations and will contribute to strengthening peace and stability in the region. According to him, the main areas of possible cooperation between Russia and Iran in the Caspian Sea are security, energy development, new types of transport and transport infrastructure, ecology and environmental protection. One of the most promising areas of Russian-Iranian scientific and technical cooperation is the development of a multi-purpose ekranoplan project.

M. Eslami (Institute of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran) turned to the topic of cooperation between the two states in the energy sector. He considered in detail the parameters that coincide between these interests and those that have the opposite direction. M. Eslami, despite the rivalry between the two states, sees opportunities for their cooperation in the oil and gas sector.

Sergey Solodovnikov (Acad. of Labor and Social Relations) noted that at present, Iran and Russia have not yet laid the necessary foundation for expanding economic cooperation: there is no clearing center, no bank for financing joint projects, no alternative currency for mutual settlements, and no mechanism for attracting joint investments. As an example of possible cooperation between the parties in the financial sphere, he suggested the idea of creating a private Russian-Iranian Islamic bank that could operate on Islamic principles and be independent of the global financial system.

Questions of cooperation between Iran and Russia in the field of space and telecommunications technologies were discussed by L. Y. Gusev (Analyst. MGIMO Center (U) Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova). He stated that these areas have great prospects and determine the future of both countries.

A. I. Polishchuk (MGLU) raised the issue of developing Russian-Iranian cooperation in the scientific and technological fields. The Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran have sufficient economic, scientific and technological potential to establish closer ties, and there is a legal framework for implementing long-term cooperation. The most promising areas of cooperation are gas production, processing and pumping, aviation technology development, shipbuilding, medicine, nanotechnology, information technology, communications and space exploration. Russia and Iran should find such forms and types of cooperation that would be maximally protected from possible sanctions from unfriendly states.

A special session of the conference was devoted to discussing the history of the development of relations between the two countries and their cooperation in the cultural and scientific spheres. L. V. Arutyunova (MGUKI) spoke about the establishment of the first diplomatic contacts between states in the XVI century and relations in the period of the XVII-XX centuries. Ravandi-Fadai (Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences) in her speech noted the importance of studying the archives of the two states for reconstructing the history of relations between them. She drew the attention of those present to the fact that sometimes assessments of certain historical events in which both states were involved were made on the basis of the subjective perception of their participants or authors of memoirs, and not on the basis of studying documents of the era. As a result, many negative aspects have remained in the memory of the peoples of the two countries, which leaves an imprint on the relations between Iran and Russia at the present time.

E. V. Dunaeva (IB RAS) analyzed the political contacts between the two countries in the late XX-early XXI centuries and noted the factors that influenced their development - the coincidence of geopolitical interests on a number of global and regional problems and economic benefits. Pragmatic tendencies in the two-state policy are growing stronger in this period.

The issues of distribution of Persian literature in Russia were discussed in the reports of J. R. R. Tolkien. Dorry (MSLU) and Kh.M. Radzhabova (Institute of Politics). and social networks. research. Black Sea-Caspian region).

Advisor to the Iranian Embassy in Moscow B. Abtahi noted the peculiarities of the higher education system in Russia and assessed the possibilities of using it to train Iranian qualified personnel. He spoke about the prospects of training Iranian students in Russian universities and stressed the need to deepen scientific exchange between the two countries.

In the final statement adopted by the participants, it was noted that further study of the possibilities of cooperation between the two states will contribute to strengthening ties between Russia and Iran and strengthening peace, stability and regional security.

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