Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Friday he believed their two countries could finalise agreements on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Iran.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian convened a crucial meeting in Moscow to discuss Middle East developments, including the Israel-Palestine conflict and the removal of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Just three days before US President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House, Russia and Iran have finally signed a “comprehensive partnership agreement,” a deal that had been in the works for months.

The presidents of Russia and Iran have signed a broad cooperation pact to deepen their partnership amid stinging Western sanctions.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has arrived in Russia for the signing of a broad cooperation treaty as his country grapples with growing economic problems and other challenges

President-elect Donald Trump is set to arrive in Washington on Saturday evening for an inauguration celebration marking his return to power that has been upended by record cold temperatures.

The ceasefire agreement, reached with Hamas, provides for the swap of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Under the deal, bitterly opposed by some cabinet hardliners, a six-week ceasefire is due to take effect on Sunday, with the first of a series of hostage-for-prisoner exchanges that could open the way to ending the 15-month war in Gaza.