Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani yesterday warned that the Syrian government must be allowed to remain in power to prevent the Islamic State group from taking over the country.
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Mr Putin also spoke to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Saturday about finding a solution to the Syrian crisis.
U.S. president Barack Obama has backed down before on Syria.
“That it has governance that will represent all of the people, it isn’t fermenting terrorism”.
ISIL jihadists maintain control over almost a third of Iraq and Syria.
Iraq said Sunday that it has a new agreement with Syria, Russian Federation and Iran to share intelligence in the fighting the militant group.
Rouhani said the United States, which has expressed outrage at Russia’s move, should not be surprised.
The Iraqi military statement said Moscow is increasingly concerned about “the presence of thousands of terrorists from Russian Federation who are carrying out criminal acts with Daesh”.
“In Syria, when our first objective is to drive out terrorists and combating terrorists to defeat them, we have no solution other than to strengthen the central authority and the central government of that country as a central seat of power”.
Based in Baghdad, the centre brings together Russian Federation, Syria, Iraq and Iran for the exchange of information, Russia’s Interfax news agency reported Saturday.
“Russia will not take part in any field operations on the territory of Syria or in other states; at least, we do not plan it for now,” he said in a transcript of the interview with USA television networks CBS and PBS released by the Kremlin.
“The critical thing is that all of the efforts need to be coordinated”, said Kerry, as he headed into talks with Lavrov. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has spoken to his Russian counterpart about Syria earlier this month, the first military-to-military conversation in more than a year.
Mr Putin is expected to explain Russia’s motives in Syria when he addresses the UN General Assembly on Monday, just after Mr Obama takes the podium.
The Iranian president’s remarks came on the eve of the annual meeting of world leaders at the United Nations, where frustration is growing at the failure to launch talks to end the almost five-year-old Syrian war.
Russia, Iran and al-Assad are united in their opposition to ISIS. With our strong ties to Israel, any attack on them and America would automatically back them up.
The United Kingdom plans to accept 20,000 more Syrian refugees from camps in neighboring countries, though it’s refusing to join European Union efforts to provide asylum for those who have fled to Europe. They say lack of a clear American policy has given ISIL opportunities to expand.
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Rouhani also argued that the fight against the jihadists can not be won with an air campaign after President Vladimir Putin said he was ruling out a ground offensive for the time being.
