Iran marks Trump’s inauguration by signing a partnership treaty with Russia

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Iran’s newly minted strategic partnership treaty with Russia may not be more than a bargaining chip if the first five years of Iran’s 25-year, US$400 billion cooperation agreement with China are any indication.

The symbolism of this week’s signing of the treaty days before US President-elect Donald J. Trump is inaugurated will not be lost on Iranian and Russian leaders when they sign their 20-year partnership agreement during this week’s visit to Moscow by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The signing of the agreement years in the making comes as Iran reels from the fallout of 16 months of Middle Eastern conflict that has reversed its regional fortunes, braces for what the incoming Trump administration has in store for the Islamic Republic and seeks to revive nuclear talks that would enable the lifting of crippling Western sanctions.