Iran’s Tasnim, Russia’s Sputnik Ink Cooperation Deal

In a meeting held via video conference on Thursday, the representatives of Tasnim and Sputnik in Tehran and Moscow signed the memorandum of cooperation.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Chairman and Head of Newsroom of Tasnim Abdollah Abdollahi, Head of the International Department of Tasnim Azim Omidi, Sputnik Director for International Cooperation Vasily Pushkov, and Head of Sputnik’s Department of Middle East Cooperation Ivan Zakharov.

According to the deal, the two news agencies will strengthen collaboration in media activities on the global stage and work in cooperation on various developments and reports regarding the political, cultural, economic, and sports events.

In comments at the signing ceremony, Sputnik Director for International Cooperation Vasily Pushkov said it was a “very important and serious development” to conclude the agreement ahead of the next BRICS summit in South Africa.

He also expressed hope that Iran would join the economic grouping soon.

The 2023 BRICS summit will be held in South Africa from August 22 to 24.

Pushkov also stressed the need for the formation of a united front against the Western mainstream media to create a balance in the world.

The fact that the Western media show hostility towards Russia as much as they express hostility towards Iran indicates that Sputnik and Tasnim are on the right track, he stated.

Describing Tasnim as an influential news agency, he said such influence is not confined to the region alone, but also is felt by reporters in the other parts of the world such as China and Venezuela.

For his part, deputy chairman of Tasnim, Abdollah Abdollahi, said the memorandum of cooperation was signed at a delicate juncture, as Iran has applied for membership in BRICS.

Stressing the need to stand against the US’ unilateralism and hegemonic policies, he said the independent states that enjoy historic character and weight should join hands and employ the capacity of coalitions such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS, as well as the regional alliance between Iran, Russia and China, to shape a better world.

Highlighting the role of media in encountering the Western hegemony and unilateralism, Abdollahi described Tasnim and Sputnik as two major and influential news agencies in their countries and the broader region.

The two parties also weighed plans for closer coordination considering Tasnim’s plan to unveil the Russian language website in the near future.

Also at the meeting, Ivan Zakharov, said Iran and Russia are in path of progress and the two countries enjoy a good level of media cooperation.

He expressed the hope that the agreement between Tasnim and Sputnik will have a positive impact on his agency Middle East department’s activities in Iran.

He pointed to Iran’s membership at Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and predicted that Iran and BRICS will have a good future.