Russia-Iran summit...Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership Treaty Enacted

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masud Peschikyan held a summit and signed a treaty to take bilateral relations to a new level.

Putin and Fezeshikyan met at the Kremlin in Moscow on the 17th local time and signed a comprehensive and strategic partnership treaty.

Putin said the treaty would add momentum to all areas of cooperation between the two countries, stressing that Fezeshikyan's visit was very important.

President Pejeshikyan also said the new treaty, which covers all areas, will be a solid foundation for developing bilateral relations.

Officials in both countries earlier said the new treaty covers all areas of defense, counterterrorism, energy, finance, transportation, industry, agriculture, culture and science and technology, but does not include the creation of a military alliance, unlike the treaty signed last year by Russia and North Korea.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov also stressed that the treaty would not target any particular country.

However, some analysts say that the two countries sanctioned by the U.S. signed a new treaty three days before the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Trump to send a political message to the U.S. government.