While Donald Trump’s recent trip to the Middle East reaffirmed the United States’ long-standing alliance with Arab states—where security guarantees are exchanged for vast sums of money—another strategic partnership is quietly taking shape in the region. On January 7 Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, signed a sweeping strategic cooperation agreement. This week, , almost in response to Trump’s high-profile visits, Iran’s parliament formally........

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