Russia signed a strategic partnership treaty with Iran on Friday that follows similar pacts with China and North Korea. All three countries are adversaries of the United States, and Russia has used its ties with them to help blunt the impact of Western sanctions and boost its war effort in Ukraine.

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.

Behrouz Esbati said he partially blamed Russia for the fall of Assad's government, in a rare break from Iran's official line on Syria.

Iran has long sought an alliance to protect it in the face of potential conflict with adversaries, but the text of the agreement falls short of obligating either party to provide military support in the event of foreign aggression.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will hold talks in Russia on Jan. 17 after which they will sign a long-awaited comprehensive strategic partnership pact, the Kremlin said on Monday.

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.

The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin will host his Iranian counterpart President Masoud Pezeshkian this week for the signing of a broad partnership pact between Moscow and Tehran.

Russia and Iran sign a 20-year strategic partnership agreement to bolster military, political, and economic cooperation amid Western sanctions and escalating tensions.

Clashes between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and groups formed by ex-members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) continue for several days. ELN comprising several thousand people remains the only large rebel group in the country after the government made peace agreement with FARC.

TEL AVIV, January 19. /TASS/. The agreement on the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli hostages kept there is expected to come into force at 08:30 a.m. local time (06:30 a.m. GMT). Israeli authorities are preparing to receive the first group of hostages held by Palestinian radicals for more than a year.

President-elect Donald J. Trump has made big promises on Ukraine, Iran, China and crises around the globe. But he will have to make difficult choices.