Presidents of Russia, Iran Meet        01/17 06:25

   The presidents of Russia and Iran opened their talks in the Kremlin on 
Friday before signing a broad cooperation pact.

   MOSCOW (AP) -- The presidents of Russia and Iran opened their talks in the 
Kremlin on Friday before signing a broad cooperation pact.

   The Kremlin said that the "comprehensive strategic partnership treaty" to be 
signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud 
Pezeshkian covers all areas --- from trade and military cooperation to science, 
education and culture.

   The signing comes ahead of the Jan. 20 inauguration of U.S. President-elect 
Donald Trump, who has pledged to broker peace in Ukraine and take a tougher 
stance on Iran, which is grappling with growing economic problems and other 
challenges, including military setbacks in its sphere of influence across the 
Middle East.

   After laying a wreath at the Unknown Soldier's Tomb at the Kremlin Wall, 
Pezeshkian and Putin sat down for talks in the Kremlin, their third meeting 
since the Iranian leader's election in July.

   Welcoming Pezeshkian as they sat down for talks, Putin said the new treaty 
will "give an additional impulse to practically all areas of our cooperatioon."

   Pezeshkian said the documents will form a "solid foundation for our forward 
movement" and emphasized the "strategic importance" of ties with Moscow.

   The Kremlin said the " comprehensive strategic partnership treaty " covers 
all areas --- from trade and military cooperation to science, education and 
culture.

   Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed any link with Trump's 
inauguration, saying the signing had been planned long ago.

   Russia's ties with Iran have grown closer after Putin sent troops into 
Ukraine in February 2022. Ukraine and the West have accused Tehran of providing 
Moscow with hundreds of exploding drones for use against Ukraine, which Moscow 
and Tehran have denied.

   Last year, Iran joined the BRICS bloc of developing economies and Pezeshkian 
attended its summit, which was hosted by Russia in Kazan.

   Russia and Iran, which had troubled relations in the past, developed cordial 
ties after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, with Moscow emerging as a 
key trade partner and supplier of weapons and technologies for Tehran, which 
has faced bruising international sanctions.

   Russia built Iran's first nuclear plant that was launched in 2013 and is 
building two more nuclear reactors there.

   Russia was part of the 2015 deal between Iran and six nuclear powers 
offering sanctions relief for Tehran in exchange for curbing its atomic 
program, and the Kremlin offered political support to Iran when the U.S. 
unilaterally withdrew from the agreement during Trump's first term.

   Russia and Iran also pooled efforts to shore up Bashar Assad's government 
during Syria's civil war, but failed to prevent his swift demise last month 
after a blitz opposition offensive.

   Assad's downfall dealt another blow to Tehran's self-described "Axis of 
Resistance" across the region, which had already been pummeled by Israel's 
offensives against two militant groups backed by Iran --- Hamas in Gaza and 
Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel also attacked Iran directly on two occasions.

   Tehran increasingly needs Moscow's assistance as it faces economic woes and 
stinging setbacks across its sphere of influence in the Middle East. The 
troubles could deepen after Trump returns to the White House with his policy of 
"maximum pressure" on Iran.

   In particular, Iran wants sophisticated Russian weapons like long-range air 
defense systems and fighter jets to help fend off possible attacks by Israel.