“I really think this is meant to be strategic messaging to the West that Iran and Russian Federation are now completely committed to the survival of the Assad regime”, he said. The UN Security Council gave no such approval, so using by Russian Federation of the Iranian base for airstrikes in Syria is very controversial activity, said Toner.
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Tehran has agreed to share its military facilities and capacities with Moscow, confirming dedication to strategic cooperation in fighting against terrorism in Syria, Irans Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani told Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.
The resolution governs some military interactions between Iran and other countries, including the supply, sale or transfer of military technologies or the provision of training or financial assistance related to the acquisition of new technologies.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier any US dismay over Moscow’s military co-operation with Iran should not distract from efforts to realise the US-Russia deal on coordinating action in Syria and securing a ceasefire. The first wave of air strikes took place on Tuesday.
Both Russia and the Iran-backed regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad may have violated global law by dropping incendiary bombs over civilian areas in Syria in recent weeks, according to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW). Russian officials on Wednesday rejected us criticisms of its use of the base.
The spokesman, Mark Toner, said the resolution allows “certain weaponry.to be used or housed in Iran”, but Russians providing the air powerState Department lawyers still hadn’t concluded whether there was a violation.
On Wednesday, Russia’s Defense Ministry said another wave of warplanes had departed from Iran, striking targets in eastern Syria.
“It’s not helpful because … it continues to complicate what is already a very risky situation”, Toner said.
Mr. Toner added that while the U.S.is concerned about the use of Iran to stage attacks, Russian Federation has been carrying out similar strikes for months from inside Syria and from Russian Federation.
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US Col. Chris Garver, the coalition spokesman, told reporters via teleconference from Baghdad that the Russians notified the coalition about their planned movement through Iraqi airspace as per a memorandum of understanding for flight safety made between Russia and the United States months ago.
