Image Credits - Tehran Times
In a recent meeting, representatives from Iran and Russia have taken a significant stride towards strengthening their collaboration in the realm of crisis management and natural disasters. The main focus of the discussion was to establish a memorandum of understanding that aims to enhance resilience in the face of natural calamities.
During the meeting, Mohammad-Hassan Nami, the head of the National Disaster Management Organization, engaged in fruitful discussions with Alexi Dedov, the Russian ambassador to Iran, and Yuri Alexeeve, the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The primary objective was to expand cooperation and exchange valuable knowledge and experiences related to crisis preparedness.
Dedov emphasized the previous successful cooperation between Russia and Iran in providing effective relief responses during emergencies. He also expressed Russia’s willingness to further strengthen collaboration in various domains.
Recognizing Asia as one of the most disaster-prone regions globally, Nami emphasized the need to bolster relations with neighbouring countries, particularly Russia, to effectively manage critical situations. He stressed the significance of knowledge exchange in mitigating the human and financial losses caused by natural hazards.
Iran put forth several initiatives to foster cooperation with the Russian Federation. These initiatives encompass joint production and knowledge sharing in the field of disaster management, including earthquake early warning systems, meteorological equipment, and cloud fertility. Additionally, Iran proposed the expansion of green spaces, tree planting, and agricultural development. Nami also suggested conducting joint crisis management drills with Russia and advocated for the establishment of a new organization or union comprising Iran, Russia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus to enhance emergency relief services.
In 2022, Stefan Priesner, the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Iran, acknowledged the wide-ranging potential of Iran in dealing with natural disasters. He expressed the United Nations’ commitment to documenting these valuable experiences and their readiness to provide services by establishing a permanent working group. This working group would consist of representatives from the UN, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the National Disaster Management Organization.
Land subsidence, which refers to the gradual settling or sudden sinking of the Earth’s surface due to various factors, is a significant issue in Iran. It is primarily caused by aquifer-system compaction, drainage, decomposition of organic soils, underground mining, oil and gas extraction, hydro compaction, natural compaction, sinkholes, and thawing permafrost. This phenomenon greatly affects Iran, with 29 provinces of the country experiencing its impact.
Situated between two vast bodies of water and at the intersection of the Eurasian plateau and Saudi Arabia, the Iranian plateau is exposed to numerous natural hazards and disasters. According to recent UN surveys, the main natural disasters faced by Iran include drought, floods, and earthquakes. Subsidence has also emerged as a consequence of drought, adding to the challenges already faced by the country.
The deepening strategic alliance between Iran and Russia, which has been ongoing since mid-2022, is evident in various domains, including military collaboration. Iran, serving as Russia’s primary military supporter, supplies Russia with numerous drones, artillery, and tank ammunition. In return, Russia extends unprecedented defence cooperation to Iran, encompassing missiles, electronics, and air defence systems.
Both nations maintain a synchronized and vigilant approach towards global strategic and regional challenges, emphasizing the significance of eliminating double standards, combating terrorism, resolving international issues through dialogue, and jointly combating drug trafficking. The lifting of sanctions on Iran in mid-2015 presents an opportunity for Russia and Iran to further strengthen their already substantial ties in oil and gas production, and power generation, and collaborate on initiatives related to regional grid and transportation integration.
Moscow provides Tehran with a crucial means of safeguarding its regional security interests, while Tehran proves to be a valuable ally to Moscow in an extremely volatile region. They continue to engage in ad hoc cooperation on specific matters and crises, which is counterbalanced by mutual mistrust and competition. Consequently, the cooperation between Iran and Russia in crisis management and natural disaster mitigation is an integral part of their broader strategic alliance, founded on a shared vision, economic connections, regional security interests, and ad hoc collaboration on specific issues.