Deputy FM: Iran, Russia to Continue Support for Syria, Iraq against Terrorism
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for African and Middle Eastern Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian, who is in an official visit to Moscow, said Iran and Russia are seriously pursuing the strategy of supporting Iraq and Syria against terrorism.
“Tehran and Moscow will actively help Iraq and Syria in their fight against terrorism and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist group,” Amir Abdollahian said after his Tuesday meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Bogdanov, who is also the special representative of the Russian president for the Middle Eastern and African Affairs.
He emphasized that the supports provided by Iran and Russia for Syria and Iraq in their fight against terrorism are real.
As regards the two countries' efforts to find a solution to crisis in Syria, the Iranian official said the four-article plan proposed by Iran to resolve the Syrian crisis, and the ideas developed by Moscow (on Syria) enjoy common principles.
The Iranian diplomat added that Syria's political future should be decided by the people of the war-stricken country.
Amir Abdollahian also voiced doubts over the sincerity of the US-led coalition against ISIL terrorists, saying that Washington is not serious about the campaign against the group.
The ISIL, as a Takfiri group in Iraq and Syria, is believed to be supported by the West and some regional Arab countries.
The terrorist group claims as an independent state the territory of Iraq and Syria, with implied future claims intended over more of the Levant, including Lebanon, occupied Palestine, Jordan, Cyprus, and Southern Turkey.
The US said on September 5 that it had created a "core coalition" to battle the ISIL militants in Iraq, calling for broad support from allies and partners around the world.