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VLADIMIR Putin is all set to sign a defence alliance deal with Iran against the West - just two days before Donald Trump takes over the White House. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Moscow today to hold chilling "Axis of Evil" talks with the Russian tyrant. Both autocratic regimes will then sign a comprehensive 20-year Russia-Iran agreement, including provisions for closer defence cooperation and a deepening of their military ties.

In his first interview with foreign press since the U.S. presidential election, Iran’s new president Masoud Pezeshkian denied a plot to assassinate Donald Trump. It comes after the Department of Justice charged an Iranian national in November in a plot to assassinate Trump. Nightly News anchor Lester Holt pressed Iran’s leader in Tehran about whether he was willing to promise there would be no attempt on the life of the president-elect.

NBC News anchor Lester Holt interviewed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian from inside Iran for an exclusive one-on-one that will air tonight on NBC Nightly News -snip- Holt spoke with Pezeshkian about the ongoing multi-front war in the Middle East amid an impending ceasefire and hostage release deal, Iran’s relationship and willingness to negotiate with the U.S., Iran’s proxy groups in the region, nuclear development, and the reported assassination plot against now President-elect Donald Trump.

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. -snip- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in October that Moscow and Tehran intended to sign the strategic partnership pact which would include closer defense cooperation.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is set to visit Moscow on Jan. 17 and sign a cooperation agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian state news agency RIA cited Iran’s ambassador to Russia as saying on Thursday. Russia has cultivated closer ties with Iran and other countries hostile towards the U.S., such as North Korea, since the start of the Ukraine war. The country’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in October that Moscow and Tehran intended to sign a deal which would include closer defence cooperation.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday accepted an invitation from his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to visit Russia, the state-run RIA news agency reported.

Irish President Michael Higgins accuses Israel of leaking the full text of a letter he sent to Iran’s new president as he was sworn in in July, an allegation rejected and denounced by the Israeli embassy. The July 11 letter congratulating Masoud Pezeshkian — whose existence was made public on July 26 by Ireland’s Foreign Ministry but whose full text was then published online on July 29 — drew backlash for its friendly nature; its claim that Iran will play a “crucial role” in achieving Middle East stability, cooperation and “peaceful resolving of disputes”; and its omission of Tehran’s major...

Russia has not classified Hamas as terrorist group. Officials from Palestinian movement, including Haniyeh, have held meetings with Russian officials in Moscow in recent years. Hamas is viewed as a terrorist group by several countries, including the U.S. and many of its allies. Russia's deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov has warned the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran was unacceptable and will lead to an escalation of violence. "This is all very bad. This is an absolutely unacceptable political assassination, and it will lead to a further escalation of tensions," "Iran's direct capability is very poor, which is...