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Iran, Russian Federation against ‘external attempts’ to dump Assad
Posted On Nov 24 2015
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The Russian head of state is attending the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) summit.
In April this year, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin signed a decree removing the ban on the supply of these systems to Iran.
“If the terrorists in Syria are not confronted and suppressed, the scope of their crimes and destructive work will be spread to the central Asia and other parts of the world”, Khamenei made the remarks in a meeting with the visiting Russian president.
Putin, on his first visit to Iran since 2007, presented an old edition of the Koran, the Muslim holy book, to Khamenei, the Iranian leader’s website said, publishing photos of the book.
“The Americans and their followers on the issue of Syria are determined to realise the objectives, which they failed to realize militarily, in the political arena and at the negotiating table, which this attempt must be vigilantly and actively blocked”, Khamenei added.
The supreme leader also shared Putin’s long-stated stance that the Syrians must decide the future of their country on their own, without outside interference.
The Russian military launched an air campaign in Syria in late September.
Moscow and Tehran have been key backers of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad throughout the civil war which has killed more than 250,000 people and forced millions from their homes.
Putin’s trip coincides with a major summit in Tehran of gas exporting countries but his talks with Khamenei are likely to dominate.
He also noted the importance of Russia’s interaction with Iran over the Syrian issue and expressed hope that it will continue in this way.
Iran and Russian Federation have become increasingly allied in Syria providing support that has propped up Assad’s government and forces since an uprising erupted in 2011.
Meanwhile, the US State Department has said that it only wanted a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis. Iran backs Lebanon’s Hezbollah fighters who are battling alongside Assad’s troops against opposition rebels.
