Too useful to die: Russias post-Soviet project gets an Iranian boost

A CIS summit in Turkmenistan on October 9, 2026 marked the Commonwealth of Independent States’ 35th anniversary with renewed interest in practical cooperation. The standout moment wasn’t just Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attending, but Iran’s proposal to create a “CIS+1” format, signaling readiness for sustained engagement beyond the traditional post-Soviet focus. Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov called the anniversary an important historical milestone, and the meeting reflected that momentum. The article traces the CIS’s origins as an integration project, arguing it helped preserve trade, transport links, and social ties after the USSR’s breakup while allowing networks to adjust to national sovereignty.