Author L. Todd Wood believes that Russian Federation and Iran will never allow Western nations to dethrone Assad.
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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.
It is Putin’s first official visit to Iran since 2007. However, it is also because it strengthens an “alternative” alliance to counter-balance the West’s influence at a time of tension.
Russia’s leading expert on oriental affairs, leading research fellow at the Institute of the World Economy and International Relations, Georgy Mirsky, has told TASS that the countries competing on the world market of hydrocarbons might cooperate successfully along strategic lines.
On November 9th, Russian Federation and Iran signed a contract finalizing the sale of S-300 missile to Tehran.
But as before, the parties continued to disagree on the future of Assad as that process unfolds, and at his meeting with Putin, Khamenei slammed the US and its allies for wanting Assad to go. “Iran is ready to play a bigger role in the supply of gas”.
In Tehran, both Putin and Iran’s supreme leader warned against any effort to impose a political settlement on Syria.
The two countries also cemented the economic and trade cooperation with signing of a number of documents on the sidelines of the GECF.
He said that the United States insistence on the ouster of Bashar al-Assad – “who is the legal and elected president of Syria” – was among the weaknesses of Washington’s announced policies.
Putin made his first visit in 8 years to Tehran yesterday and he was immediately taken to the residence of Ayatollah Ali in Tehran upon his arrival where he presented the Ayatollah with one of the oldest hand written copies of the Holy Qur’an.
This alignment has also in part been motivated by a shared desire to reduce United States influencing the trajectory and outcome of the conflict.
“This threat should be neutralized wisely and with closer interaction…”
According to Jordanian media, King Abudllah will convey his concerns that escalated Russian air raids against Islamist extremist forces near the border with Syria could trigger a new refugee exodus. The plan, however, says nothing about Assad’s fate, a point on which Russian Federation and Tehran might be at odds.
In order to enhance the effectiveness of joint operations by Russian Federation and Iran against the Islamic State Moscow is keen to encourage Tehran by supplying its S-300 air defense systems, issuing an export loan and launching joint projects in energy and construction.
Putin visit to Tehran is being hailed in Syria and Lebanon as a “meeting of the titans” but USA and European Union still strongly hold the view that any solution in Syria must include the removal of Assad.
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The civil war in Syria has drawn attention from leaders across the globe.
