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.
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“The conversation was of a very constructive nature”, Peskov said.
“As his excellency [Khamenei] stated, the Americans intend to pursue the objectives, which they have failed to achieve in the Syrian battlefields, at the negotiating table, and we are closely watching this issue”, Putin was quoted as saying.
After talks with Ayatollah Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran Putin said that Russian Federation and Iran were determined to enhance cooperation within the framework of the worldwide group for Syria and in the struggle against terrorism. 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.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) met with Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (right) to discuss current affairs in Syria.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally eased an export ban on nuclear equipment and technology to Iran.
According to footage broadcasted by the Russian channel Russia-24 which was reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP), Putin said at the meeting that “No one from outside is able to impose upon the Syrian people any sort of rule for their country or say who should take over its leadership”.
Every solution about Syria should take into consideration the consensus of the Syrian people and officials, he added. But some have speculated that Moscow could be prepared to see Assad phased out of power as part of a deal that would guarantee stability in Syria and protect Russia’s interests there.
Russia, Iran, Qatar, Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, and the United Arab Emirates, are main members of the GECF.
The former Soviet Union was the first state to recognise Iran as an Islamic republic after the 1979 revolution. The transfer and deployment of the system will be completed by the end of 2015, according to the agreement between the two countries. With these strategic goals in mind, Moscow is not willing to alienate other regional powers in favour of Iran, as shown by the recent meeting with Saudi Arabia and, most annoyingly to Iran, Israel.
Russia’s campaign of airstrikes in support of the Syrian regime that began September 30 has also drawn the countries closer strategically, while the United States and Europe are pushing for Assad’s ouster as part of any settlement to the war.
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Russian companies are eyeing opportunities in Iran after sanctions are lifted, a step expected in the next two months as the nuclear deal reaches its “implementation” stage.
