Russia slams Bolton's Syria claim: We're not stuck

Russia has blasted claims by US National Security Adviser John Bolton that it's "stuck" in Syria, warning American officials against making such remarks while their own troops are also on the ground in the conflict-ridden Arab country.

"It is not correct for anyone, let alone our counterparts in Washington, to claim that Russia has stuck someplace," Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday. "Let us not forget that US military personnel is present on Syrian soil, too. This should be born in mind."

Earlier in the day, Bolton told reporters in the Israeli-occupied city of Jerusalem al-Quds that Washington could use Russia's alleged quagmire as leverage to push for an end to Iran’s mission there.

Over the past years, Russia and Iran have been helping Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his forces to purge Daesh Takfiri terrorists and other foreign-backed militant groups from large parts of the Arab country.

The critical support has put Assad on the verge of fully liberating the southern parts near the Israeli-occupied territories, prompting serious concerns in Tel Aviv, which supports the terrorists operating there against Damascus.

PressTV-Bolton: Russia stuck in Syria, US can now push for Iran exit

The US national security advisor says Russia is currently “stuck” in Syria, and that Washington could use this situation as leverage to push for Iran’s exit from the Arab state.

Russia and Iran – together with Turkey – have also been mediating a successful diplomatic process that has brought the warring sides to the negotiating table.

Peskov said Russia "plays a very active role in saving Syria from international terrorism" and in "putting Syria on the track of political and diplomatic settlement."

"Also, Russia actively promotes the return of refugees to Syria and the beginning of the country’s postwar reconstruction," he added.

Israel has been forcing the US to do more about ending Iran's military advisory presence across its northern border in Syria, demanding that all Iranian forces as well as the forces from Lebanon's Hezbollah movement leave.

PressTV-Russia’s envoy to Israel defends Iran’s mission in Syria

The Russian ambassador to Israel says Iran is ‘playing a very, very important role in our common and joint efforts to eliminate terrorists in Syria.’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has held several meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, asking him to assert his influence and grant the Tel Aviv regime its wish.

The issue was raised in a controversial meeting between US President Donald Trump and Putin in Helsinki last month. The Russian president had also discussed the matter with Bolton a few weeks earlier.

Putin would be glad to see Iran leave Syria: Bolton

Bolton claimed Putin had told him that “Iranian interests in Syria were not conterminous with Russian interests in Syria and that he would be content to see the Iranian forces all sent back to Iran.”

Apparently, Putin also told the former US envoy to the UN that “I can’t do it myself” and that a “joint US-Russia effort” might be needed to achieve that goal.

Unnamed US officials familiar with the meeting have confirmed the exchange did take place between Bolton and Putin.

Russia has yet to elaborate on the matter.

Read more:

• Iran to remain in Syria to keep Israel out: Official

"Pointless" sanctions undermining US-Russia ties

Speaking at a news conference after talks with Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto in the Black Sea city of Sochi, Putin said Wednesday that his meeting with Trump was useful, but real progress comes when Washington reconsiders its "pointless and counter-productive" sanctions against Moscow.

PressTV-Putin signs US counter-sanctions bill

Russian President Vladimir Putin signs a counter-sanctions bill in response to the US' latest sanctions against the country.

The US Treasury Department said Tuesday that Washington will impose "much more economic pain" to Russia if it does not change its global behaviors significantly.

Putin made the remarks after US imposed sanctions on two Russians national, one Russian company and one Slovakian company for aiding a third Russian company to avoid previous US sanctions over the Moscow's alleged cyber attacks against various American political and economic targets.

Washington's new sanctions also included two Russian shipping companies and six ships over claims of transferring refined petroleum products to North Korean vessels.

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