Putin arrives in Tehran for talks on energy, Syria

Russian Federation and Iran are Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s crucial military backers and their position on his future as leader is being closely watched as a precondition for ending the war in the country.

“The conversation was of a very constructive nature”, Peskov said.

A Kremlin spokesman said Moscow and Tehran were united against “external attempts to dictate scenarios of political settlement in Syria“. Khamenei said the USA had a “long-term plan” to dominate Syria and the Middle East which would “disadvantage all countries, especially Iran and Russia”.

“This threat should be neutralised wisely and with closer interaction”, he was quoted as saying in a statement, meaning co-operation with Russian Federation.

Putin also addressed a natural gas export summit in Tehran – both Russian Federation and Iran are large gas exporters.

Putin and Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei are said to have agreed that other global powers should not be allowed to “impose their will” on Syria, as by making the ouster of Assad a precondition for a political solution.

Iran was invited at Russia’s behest to attend worldwide talks on the Syrian crisis in Vienna for the first time on October 30.

This is Putin’s second trip to Iran.

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.

In 2010, then-president Dmitry Medvedev cancelled the contract as he came under strong USA and Israeli pressure not to go ahead with the sale of the weapons system, but his pretext was that the sale was covered by the fourth round of the UN Security Council sanctions against Iran.

Russian Federation lifted the ban in April this year, after its relations with the United States and Europe strained with the latter countries imposing economic sanctions on the former.

In return, Tehran agreed to long-term curbs on its nuclear programme in a landmark July deal with the so-called P5+1 powers.

Putin ordered Russia’s first military campaign outside the former Soviet Union in decades to bolster Assad’s regime.

“Today, arrogant [that is, U.S.] policies are plaguing the humanity like a grave scourge and the only way for the progress and victory of independent countries is steadfastness and reliance on masses in the wars of wills”, the Iranian said.

Moscow has announced opening a $5 billion credit line for Iran and help for Tehran’s struggling banking sector is also expected.

In order to enhance the effectiveness of joint operations by Russian Federation and Iran against the Islamic State Moscow is keen to encourage Tehran by supplying its S-300 air defense systems, issuing an export loan and launching joint projects in energy and construction.