Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Russia Planned Secret Iran Deals Before Trump War Declaration
Russia and Iran made a plan to work more closely together.
The plan was written before the current conflict began.
It covered trade, banking, energy, and civilian nuclear projects.
The countries wanted to use their own currencies more often instead of relying on Western financial systems.
They also considered digital currencies and independent ways to send banking messages.
Russia’s nuclear company Rosatom was given duties connected to Iran’s Bushehr plant.
Russian companies were expected to seek greater involvement in several Iranian oil and gas fields.
The document does not show which projects are still active or how the war changed them.
A 44-page Russian document mapped expanded cooperation with Iran from 2024 to 2026.
Approved on September 2, 2024, the roadmap assigned tasks to ministries, agencies, and state-owned companies.
Russia and Iran planned to increase national-currency trade settlements from 68% in 2024 to 71% by 2026.
The plan included independent financial messaging, digital-currency payments, and links between Iran’s Shetab and Russia’s Mir systems.
It also covered Rosatom’s Bushehr responsibilities, Russian involvement in Iranian energy fields, and coordination against Western restrictions.
- Who
- The governments of Russia and Iran, along with their ministries, agencies, regulators, central banks, and state-owned companies.
- What
- They prepared a roadmap to deepen financial, energy, nuclear, and strategic cooperation.
- When
- The document was approved on September 2, 2024, and covered 2024 through 2026.
- Where
- The cooperation involved Russia and Iran, including Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant and specified oil and gas fields.
- Why
- The plan aimed to reduce reliance on Western financial infrastructure and coordinate against Western trade restrictions.
- Document
- A 44-page Russian government document marked “For official use”.
- Approval date
- September 2, 2024.
- Roadmap period
- 2024 to 2026.
- National-currency settlements
- Targeted to rise from 68% of bilateral trade in 2024 to 71% by 2026.
- Financial cooperation
- Included correspondent banking, digital-currency payments, and independent financial messaging systems.
- Nuclear cooperation
- Rosatom was assigned fuel and maintenance support for Bushehr’s first unit and continued work on Units 2 and 3.
- Energy cooperation
- Russian companies were expected to pursue greater involvement in Iran’s Shadegan, Kish, and North Pars fields.
- Caveat
- The document predates the current conflict and does not establish which projects remain active.