TEHRAN — At a Kremlin ceremony on Friday, Iran's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, signed a long-awaited 20-year strategic partnership agreement between their two countries. 

"This document has been drafted in accordance with the interests of the two nations and is capable of outlining a bright horizon on the path of bilateral cooperation," Pezeshkian declared at a televised joint press conference with Putin following the signing ceremony, expressing hope that "we will witness a new chapter in strategic collaboration." 

Putin also voiced confidence that the new agreement will aid in strengthening future cooperation. "We are aware that what is being done in Tehran-Moscow bilateral ties is under the observation and control of the [Iranian] leader," Putin said, referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has been pressing Iranian officials on the agreement for years. 

The partnership deal is viewed by Khamenei supporters as a milestone in his "look to the East" policy, pursued with the aim of offsetting international sanctions, which have left Iran's economy in shambles.