Just three days before US President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House, Russia and Iran have finally signed a “comprehensive partnership agreement,” a deal that had been in the works for months.

Russian President Vladimir Putin began talks with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, at a summit on Friday to sign a new pact, as the two countries brace for the return of US President-elect Donald Trump to the White House.

The agreement is focused more on trade than military issues, but it will bring two countries with a shared desire to challenge the West closer together.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday signed a 20-year strategic partnership treaty that includes closer defence cooperation, something likely to worry the West.

Russia and Iran have agreed to closer military co-operation, in a move announced during a visit to Moscow by President Masoud Pezeshkian. The two countries signed a 20-year "strategic partnership" treaty,

Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting his Iranian counterpart President Masoud Pezeshkian for the signing of a broad partnership pact

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, signed a broad cooperation pact Friday as their countries deepened their partnership in the face of stinging Western sanctions.

Vladimir Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian signed an agreement in Moscow for a strategic partnership, covering trade, military cooperation, and culture. On Friday in Moscow, a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between Russia and Iran was signed.