Iran’s Leader in Moscow to Sign Cooperation Treaty With Russia

President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran on Friday met in Moscow with Vladimir V. Putin, his Russian counterpart, for high-profile talks, solidifying an alliance between two countries driven by a mutual desire to challenge the West.

Iran and Russia have been subjected to numerous sanctions by the West, and trade and finance are at the forefront of a strategic cooperation agreement that the two leaders are expected to sign.

The agreement is also expected to cover military issues, but in contrast to accords that Moscow has signed with other allies, the deal with Iran stops short of including a mutual defense clause, according to Iran’s ambassador to Moscow.

“Our country’s independence and security, as well as self-reliance, are very important,” Kazem Jalali, told IRNA, an Iranian news agency, according to TASS. “We are not interested in joining any bloc.”

Read more: New York Times