Putin and Pezeshkian Sign 20-Year Russia-Iran Strategic Pact Ahead of Trump's Inauguration

Jan 17, 2025, 08:08 AM

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met in Moscow on January 17, 2025, to sign a 20-year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, establishing a roadmap for cooperation between the two nations. The agreement covers areas including economic ties, security and defense collaboration, and technological and humanitarian cooperation, aiming to strengthen relations without posing a threat to other countries, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Notably, the pact does not include a mutual defense clause, unlike Russia's agreements with North Korea and Belarus. The signing comes just days before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, underscoring the two countries' intent to bolster ties amid shifting geopolitical dynamics. The leaders discussed Iran's nuclear program and regional issues, including the situations in Syria, Palestine, and the Caucasus.