Iran, Russia engaged in strategic cooperation in anti-terror fight: Shamkhani

A senior Iranian official says Iran and Russia are engaged in “strategic” cooperation and exchange of capacities to fight terrorism in Syria.

“Tehran-Moscow cooperation in the fight against terrorism in Syria is strategic and we exchange capacities and potentialities in this field,” Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani told IRNA on Tuesday.

Shamkhani made the remarks in reaction to a statement by Russian Defense Ministry on Tuesday that Russian warplanes have taken off from an air base in the western Iranian city of Hamedan to target Daesh Takfiri terrorists and other militants in Syria.

"On August 16, Tu-22M3 long-range bombers and Su-34 frontline bombers, flying with a full bomb load from the Hamedan air base, conducted a group air strike against targets” of Daesh and Jabhat Fath al-Sham terrorists in the Syrian provinces of Aleppo, Dayr al-Zawr and Idlib, the Russian ministry said.

According to the statement, the attacks destroyed a number of training camps, command centers, and large arms and fuel depots belonging to the militant groups near the village of Jafra and the city of Dayr al-Zawr, adding that a large number of militants were killed in the air raids.

Iran’s continues helping terror-hit countries

The SNSC secretary also stated that Iran has managed to establish stability and security in the country and will continue to provide advisory assistance to those countries plagued with terrorism.

The Islamic Republic is a stable and secure country through reliance on the know-how, experience and might of its military and security institutions and due to strong support of its people, Shamkhani said.

He added that the Islamic Republic's enemies seek to bring to life some “defunct and outdated” opposition groups by giving them money and different promises, but they would certainly fail to achieve their goals.

Iran and Russia are Syria’s main allies and have been assisting the government in Damascus in its fight against foreign-backed terrorist groups, including the Daesh Takfiri terrorists.

Since September 30, 2015, Russia has been conducting airstrikes against Daesh and other terrorist groups in Syria at the Syrian government’s request.

Iran has also been providing advisory assistance to the Syrian government.

Syria has been gripped by a foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimates that over 400,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

Iran-Russia-Syria cooperation against terrorists

Shamkhani further said constructive cooperation among Iran, Russia and Syria has created a “very tough” situation for terrorists.

"As a result of the constructive and extended cooperation among Iran, Russia, Syria and the resistance front, the situation has become very tough for terrorists and this process will continue with the beginning of a new and extended operation until their annihilation," the senior Iranian official said.

He emphasized that preventing foreign-backed militants from using civilians as human shield must be taken into consideration as an inevitable approach to dealing blows to terrorist groups. 

Shamkhani noted that proper measures have been taken in this regard and the dispatch of foodstuff and medicine has not been stopped despite blind attacks by terrorist groups.

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