China, Iran, and Russia Formalize Comprehensive Strategic Pact, Signaling Shift Towards Multipolar Order

Trilateral Alliance Solidified Amidst Global Shifts

In a significant geopolitical development, Iran, China, and Russia formally signed a comprehensive strategic pact on January 29, 2026. This agreement is being heralded by state media in all three nations as a 'cornerstone for a new multipolar order,' aiming to deepen cooperation across economic, political, and defense spheres. The pact explicitly combines the three powers within a coordinated framework, aligning them on critical issues such as nuclear sovereignty, economic collaboration, military coordination, and diplomatic strategy.

Building on Existing Bilateral Foundations

The newly established trilateral pact is built upon a history of strengthening bilateral relationships between the nations. Iran and Russia previously concluded a 20-year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, which was signed in January 2025 and entered into force last year. This treaty encompasses 47 articles addressing cooperation in areas including:

• Technology and information security
• Peaceful nuclear energy collaboration
• Counterterrorism efforts
• Regional cooperation
• Environmental issues
• Combating money laundering and organized crime

The Iran-Russia agreement aims to boost trade and economic ties, with bilateral trade having already increased by 15.5% to $3.77 billion between January and October 2024.

Concurrently, Iran and China have been bound by a 25-year cooperation agreement, initially signed in 2021. This agreement focuses on expanding trade, infrastructure, and energy integration, involving a projected $400 billion Chinese investment in Iran's economy over 25 years. These investments are primarily directed towards Iran's oil, gas, and petrochemical industries, as well as infrastructure development, in exchange for a steady and discounted supply of Iranian oil. The agreement also facilitates Iran's participation in China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Enhanced Military and Security Cooperation

While not constituting a formal military alliance, the strategic pact is expected to significantly strengthen military cooperation among the three nations. China and Russia have regularly conducted joint naval drills in the Indian Ocean and Gulf waters, with Iran participating, demonstrating interoperability and shared security interests. This cooperation is anticipated to lead to more coordinated defense planning and intelligence sharing.

Recent reports from Iranian outlets on January 29, 2026, indicated that the Iranian Navy plans to hold a joint military exercise with China and Russia in the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean 'in the coming days,' though official confirmation from Russian and Chinese media was pending. Furthermore, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun held discussions on January 27, 2026, emphasizing the need for coordinated actions regarding developments in regions like Iran and Venezuela.

A Vision for a Multipolar World

Officials in Tehran have characterized the pact as a joint commitment to 'mutual respect, sovereign independence and a rules-based international system that rejects unilateral coercion,' sentiments echoed by Beijing and Moscow. This aligns with China's foreign policy objectives for 2026, which seek to advance its geopolitical interests and shape global governance, thereby challenging the existing Western-dominated international order. The pact is seen as a direct response to decades of growing cooperation among the three states and their shared opposition to Western dominance and sanctions. For China, this relationship is strategically important for its energy security, for diverting U.S. attention, and for expanding its influence in Southwest Asia.