The Russian and Iranian presidents on Friday signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership treaty", AFP journalists reported from the signing ceremony in the Kremlin.

 

"It is truly a breakthrough document," Russian leader Vladimir Putin said at the signing ceremony, adding that the two heavily sanctioned countries were "united.. in taking our relationship to a new level".

 

Putin said that both his country and Iran were resolutely opposed to external pressure from abroad.

 

"Our countries firmly uphold the principles of the rule of international law, the principles of sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs... and resolutely oppose diktats from the outside," Putin said.

 

On Gaza, the Russian leader said he hoped a ceasefire in Gaza would lead to a "long-term stabilisation" and called for efforts to secure a "comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict".

 

"We hope this will contribute to alleviating the humanitarian situation and to the long-term stabilisation of the sector,” he added.

 

"At the same time, it is important not to weaken efforts for a comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of international law," he said, speaking alongside Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the Kremlin.

 

For his part, Pezeshkian called for Russia and Ukraine to reach a "political settlement" to end the conflict

 

"Engaging in combat and war is not a solution to the problem," Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in remarks translated into Russian. "Therefore, we (would) welcome a political settlement between Russia and Ukraine," added Pezeshkian, whose country the West says has sent weapons to Russia.

 

The details of the document have not been released, but the Kremlin has said it will strengthen Tehran and Moscow's "military-political and trade-economic" relations.

 

Moscow has looked to the Islamic republic as a strategic ally since sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022, worrying Western officials who see both as malign actors on the world stage.

 

Tehran has given little detail on the new treaty, but has ruled out a mutual defence clause like the one included in Moscow's pact with North Korea last year, Russian state media reported, citing Tehran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi.

 

Iran has already supplied Russia with self-detonating "Shahed" drones that Moscow fires on Ukraine in nightly barrages, according to Ukrainian and Western officials. Both have ramped up their trade in response to Western sanctions.

 

The two sides had been working on a new treaty for years. Their current relationship is governed by a 2001 document they have renewed periodically.

 

Russia says its pact with Iran and the already-signed treaty with Pyongyang are "not directed against any country".

 

"The treaty ... is constructive in nature and is aimed at strengthening the capabilities of Russia, Iran, and our friends in various parts of the world," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

 

It is set to be valid for 20 years, Russia's TASS news agency reported on Tuesday, citing the Iranian ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali.