Lavrov says “there has been no supply, sale or transfer of combat jets to Iran” and insisted that the Russian Air Force’s presence in Iran is only about using its facilities.
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Russian Federation and Iran have strongly backed Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government throughout the five-and-a-half year civil war with rebel groups supported by the United States and allies such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia. With Russia protecting Assad’s position, the USA has backed off from demanding his ouster in any early phase of a political transition.
Moscow said several SU 34 fighter bombers flew out of Iran’s Shahid Nojeh Air Base, 130 miles west of Tehran, to strike Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant positions near Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria yesterday morning.
“Over 150 militants have been eliminated, among them foreign mercenaries”, in the strikes, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
According to the U.S., Russian Federation violates the Resolution of UNSG 2231, which stipulates prohibits the supply, sale and transfer of combat aircraft to Iran unless the council approves.
London, Moscow- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani denied that Russian Federation has a permanent military base in the Islamic Republic following comments made by Iranian MP Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh that the deployment of foreign military forces inside the country is unconstitutional.
“There are no grounds to suspect Russian Federation of breaching the resolution”, Lavrov said at a news conference in Moscow.
“There is no reason whatsoever to suspect Russia’s violation of Resolution 2231 because there has been no supply, sale or transfer of military aircraft to Iran from Russian Federation”. “It’s not just Russian planes touching down in Iran”. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.
“In the case we are discussing now, there was neither the sale, nor supply, nor transfer of warplanes to Iran”.
The envoy said the 48-hour pause will be the topic of a meeting that will take place late Thursday between countries working to achieve a cessation of hostilities.
On Wednesday the State Department reiterated its concern, saying Russia’s use of the Iranian base “doesn’t help” reach a cessation of hostilities in Syria and that U.S. lawyers were still assessing whether it violated the United Nations resolution.
Russian Federation also gave advance notice to the U.S. -led coalition battling Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, complying with the terms of a safety agreement meant to avoid an accidental clash in the skies, said U.S. Army Colonel Christopher Garver, a Baghdad-based spokesman for the U.S-led coalition. “We haven’t made an assessment”. During the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, Iran allowed refugees into the country and backed mujahedeen rebel fighters as did the U.S.
“So that element of it is not new”, he said.
“It’s not helpful because … it continues to complicate what is already a very risky situation”, Toner said.
Analyst Vatanka says that while allowing Russian Federation to use its military base might represent a joint effort by to strengthen Assad militarily, the partnership could also be an attempt by Tehran to send a signal to Washington. What Tehran seems to be saying is: Moscow may talk to all of you about Syria, but it is working with us there. Washington supports “moderate” rebels.
Both countries back Assad.
According to the Commission, civilians are being killed in the city due to daily aerial bombardments by Government and pro-Government forces, while many have also died trapped under rubble of collapsed buildings surrounding impact sites.
Moscow’s deepening involvement comes as the Syrian regime and Iran-backed ground forces supported by Russian Federation airstrikes are battling to retake the city Aleppo from rebels, including jihadists.
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But when asked about such a collaboration by CNN’s Clarissa Ward Wednesday, the former American ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, said, “It’s not at all clear you can trust the Russians”. But the main advantage, he said, was symbolic.
