Iran and Russia signed a 20-year strategic partnership treaty. It outlines significant economic and military cooperation.

MOSCOW (AP) — 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.

Their treaty may be a case of "form over substance," and its timing — after Assad's fall and before Trump's return — is key.

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.

While Moscow and Tehran have shared warmer relations for decades, a revival of the nations’ allyship occurred when the former invaded Kyiv.

For Moscow, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to Russia on Jan. 17 is a diplomatic victory. The trip's centerpiece will be the finalization of a long-heralded partnership deal between Russia and Iran,

What to know about the relationship between Russia and Iran:

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.

Russia and Iran plan to sign a new 20-year treaty, and it is missing a key element in its territorial integrity clause: Crimea.

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.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans on Friday to build a gas pipeline to Iran aimed at eventually transporting up to 55 billion cubic metres (bcm) per year to the West Asian country.