Russia Has Not Opposed Iran’s Presence in Syria, Velayati Says
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Ali Akbar Velayati, an international adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, said the Russian Federation has not expressed opposition to the Islamic Republic’s presence in war-stricken Syria.
Speaking to Russia’s RT television network, Velayati rejected claims that Russia has tried to end Iran’s presence in Syria and said he has not heard anything from Russian officials so far about Moscow’s opposition to the Iranian advisory presence in the Arab country or other regional countries.
He further pointed to regional cooperation between Iran and Russia and said such close cooperation exists because it is their region.
Velayati also stressed that until the legitimate government of Syria asks Iran to leave the country, the Islamic Republic will remain in Syria.
The Iranian official went on to say that Iran is present in Syria and Iraq at the request of the legal governments of the two countries and would not reject a similar request from Yemen if the Yemenis ask for Iran's help.
In relevant comments made last week in Moscow, Velayati said Iran’s advisory missions in Syria and Iraq will immediately end if the two Arab countries’ governments want so.
In recent years, the Middle East has been plagued with Takfiri terrorist groups like Daesh (ISIL or ISIS), which are believed to have been created and supported by the West and some regional Arab countries.
The terrorist groups, which claim to be Islamic but whose actions are anything but, have been committing heinous crimes not only against non-Muslims but mostly against Muslims in the region.
Iraq and Syria have been among the countries gripped by terrorism.
Iran, a close ally of the two countries, has supported their legitimate governments in their campaign against foreign-backed militancy and terrorism.