Closer Iran-Russia Ties Can Help Resolve Global Woes: Velayati
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Ali Akbar Velayati, an international adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution, said Tehran-Moscow's enhanced cooperation can play a significant role in resolving international issues.
Velayati described the relations between the two countries as “deep” and “historical”, and said, “Every day this factor becomes more and more important. Iran and Russia play an important role not only in helping to determine the future of the Middle East, but also in solving global issues as well.”
“Our countries have common interests which are becoming more and more important…and the speed with which changes are taking place in the world require us to meet more often, require our cooperation,” he told Sputnik in Moscow late on Friday.
Velayati travelled to Moscow for talks with top Russian officials on the latest developments in the region and coordination of policies on Syria.
He added that Iran and Russia need to deepen the current level of their cooperation in order to be able to root out regional woes.
“A striking example is our cooperation in Syria — the fact that we are working to defend the Syrian people and government against terrorists and their sponsors. Such cooperation is unprecedented in modern history.”
Elsewhere in the interview, the senior Iranian official touched upon suspension of the latest round of Geneva peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition groups, and said, “Iran considers, first and foremost, that the Syrian issue does not have a military solution – only a political one.”
UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura announced Wednesday the suspension of the peace talks to end Syria’s war until February 25.
The Syrian government delegation blamed the opposition for the pause in the talks, accusing it of pulling out because it was losing the fight on the ground.
On Wednesday, the Syrian army advanced against Takfiri militants north of Aleppo, choking their supply lines from Turkey to the city.
