Russian Warplanes in Iran Only for Refueling: Top MP

Following reports that Russia has begun to use an airbase in Iran’s western city of Hamedan to launch airstrikes against terrorists in Syria with strategic bombers, Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said Russian planes are flying from Iran’s Nojeh airbase according to a directive adopted by the Supreme National Security Council and within the framework of quadrilateral cooperation among Iran, Russia, Syria and Iraq.

He argued that such military collaboration does not violate Iran’s constitution, because the Nojeh airbase has “not become a Russian base and no (Russian) fighter jet has been stationed” in there either.

The Russian warplanes have been only allowed to be refueled in the Iranian airbase during their flights, Boroujerdi explained, saying this is totally logical within the framework of bilateral and quadrilateral cooperation.

On Tuesday, Russia's Rossiya 24 channel also broadcast uncaptioned images of at least three Tupolev-22M3 bombers and a Russian military transport plane inside Iran. It said the Iranian deployment would allow the Russian air force to cut flight times by 60 percent.

Later in the day, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said that Tehran and Moscow have developed a strategic partnership in the war on terrorism in Syria, saying they share “capacities and facilities” in the anti-terrorism campaign.

Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups, including Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL), currently controlling parts of it.

Meanwhile, Russia’s aerial support for the Syrian forces since September 2015 has given fresh impetus to the fight against the foreign-backed terrorists.

Iran has also remained a close ally of Syria and supports its legitimate government in the face of militancy.