Iran Eyes Cooperation with Russia in Reconstruction of Syria

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin and Russian President's Special Envoy to Syria Alexander Lavrentiev traveled to Tehran after a visit to Damascus and held a meeting with the Iranian top diplomat on Sunday.

In the meeting, Amirabdollahian lauded the cooperation between Tehran and Moscow in Syria as a very successful experience that was in conformity with the request and will of the Syrian government.

He also stressed the need to use such successful experience of the joint battle against terrorism in Syria as a model for closer interaction between Iran and Russia in the economic arenas in order to help reconstruct Syria and contribute to its stability.

The Iranian foreign minister also called for continued cooperation within the framework of the Astana format, describing the Syrian-Syrian negotiations as the only political solution to the crisis in the Arab country.

For their part, the Russian diplomats emphasized the importance of talks and the exchange of delegations with Iran over various bilateral and regional issues and the affairs relating to Syria.

Pointing to their most recent negotiations in Damascus, Vershinin and Lavrentiev expounded on the latest activities at the international arena with the other actors and also the latest developments in Syria.

In a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart last week, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stressed the need for mutual cooperation in the region, adding, “We believe that the continued presence of outsiders in Syria is illegal and runs counter to the will of the Syrian nation and government, because it threatens stability and security of that country.”