Putin, Khamenei Say World Powers Must Not Impose Political Will On Syria

Khamenei said that Tehran and Moscow need to work closely, and advocated for a greater economic relationship between the nations.

The foreign ministers of Iran and Russian Federation signed one agreement aimed to facilitate mutual travel conditions for citizens of the two countries.

U.S. President Barack Obama, speaking Sunday in Kuala Lumpur, said that Russian Federation has agreed to some sort of political transition process in Syria. The news comes as regional powers seek to update their militaries and defenses in advance of a nuclear deal that will see worldwide sanctions lifted against Iran.

It is Putin’s first official visit to Iran since 2007.

Russian Federation has reportedly begun the procedure for supplying S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Iran, after a contract was signed by the two countries earlier this month.

Khamenei praised Putin as an outstanding figure in the region and the world and thanked him for his efforts in bringing about a final nuclear deal between Iran and the six world powers. Until just recently the two countries had disagreements over the issue.

The refugee crisis in Europe and the intensified threat of Islamic State terror attacks there have recently forced the United States and Europe to accept the need to involve Russian Federation and Iran in ending the Syrian civil war. Both sides were deliberate in their show of solidarity on their joint approach to Syria. “What is really going on is a new hegemon is now dominating the Middle East – the new axis of Iran and Russian Federation”, wrote Todd in the Washington Times.

Russian Federation is also emerging as a long-term arms partner for Iran, despite the countries having a complicated history over territory, oil, commerce and communism.

On his one-day trip to Tehran today, Putin was also to attend the GECF meeting and, on the sidelines there, meet with Iranian President Hassan Rohani. This was highlighted by recent comments.

Russia’s Tass state news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying the meeting between Putin and Khamenei was “very constructive”. “This threat should be neutralised wisely and with closer interaction”.

The plan says nothing about Assad’s fate, and does not say which of Syria’s many opposition factions would take part in the negotiations.

Putin visit to Tehran is being hailed in Syria and Lebanon as a “meeting of the titans” but United States and European Union still strongly hold the view that any solution in Syria must include the removal of Assad. On the fundamental principle that a future government in Syria ought to be elected by the people of that country through free democratic choice Moscow and Tehran are unwilling to compromise.