Putin is also expected to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
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Khamenei criticized United States policies in Syria, saying, “It is a threat to all nations, especially Russian Federation and Iran”.
Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela are the forum’s main members.
The visit comes as Russian Federation nears a third month of military engagement in the Syrian conflict.
Putin and Khamenei met before the Russian leader headed to a major summit of gas exporting countries in the Iranian capital.
“Nobody can or should force upon the Syrian people certain structures of powers or state or leaders from outside – that can only be decided by the Syrian people”, Putin said in a video translated by France24.
“This must be prevented through wisdom and active interaction”, Khamenei told Putin at the start of their meeting that lasted more than an hour and a half. The transcript did not clarify specifically what Putin was referring to, but given Russia’s prominent role in political negotiations and its diplomatic efforts with Iran’s rivals in the Persian Gulf, there have probably been incentives and pressure to reduce support for Assad. “And we said that the S-300 is not capable to attack…to reach the neighboring countries”.
Russian Federation has shielded Syria from worldwide sanctions, and on September 30 it launched an air campaign against the Islamic State group and other insurgents, while Tehran has sent military advisers to shore up Assad.
“Strikes by Russia’s air group against Islamic State positions and operations by the Syrian government army and the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps have not yet changed the balance of force between the terrorists and Damascus in favor of the legitimate Syrian authorities yet”. Mr. Assad’s fate will likely dominate the agenda.
During Putin’s visit the Kremlin announced it had lifted a ban on Russian firms working on uranium enrichment at Iran’s atomic sites, following the nuclear deal.
Tehran and Moscow are the regional allies of the Assad government in Syria’s long-lasting conflict.
He also reiterated the opposition stance that there could be no peaceful solution in Syria without the removal of Assad.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tehran for the first time in almost a decade on Monday bearing gifts: A rare replica of the Osman Koran and Moscow’s commitment to its burgeoning alliance with the Islamic Republic.
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The leaders then held a press conference, during which Putin said, “We will provide maximum assistance to implement a corresponding action plan within the framework of the Iranian nuclear program, approved in July by the UN Security Council”.
