Iran-Turkey-Russia cooperation promotes Syria security: Rouhani

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says cooperation among Iran, Russia, and Turkey, as the three guarantor states of a ceasefire regime in Syria, has promoted security in the war-ravaged Arab country.

Rouhani made the remarks in a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, Turkey, on Monday on the sidelines of a tripartite meeting, which also included Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"It is necessary to help the Syrian government in its fight against the remaining terrorists, especially in the Idlib region and east of Euphrates, and cooperation [with Damascus] must continue until terrorism is uprooted in the region," Iran's president said.

The model of cooperation among Iran, Turkey and Russia on ways to ensure security in the region can contribute to regional stability through trilateral and multilateral ties among neighboring countries, he added.

In late August, the Russian and Turkish presidents agreed on measures to “normalize” the situation in the terrorist-infested Syrian province of Idlib, where the Damascus government’s Moscow-backed operations against terrorists have reportedly complicated the unlawful Turkish involvement there.

Russia, Turkey agree to ‘normalize’ situation in Syria’s Idlib

Russia and Turkey agree on measures to “normalize” the situation in the terrorist-infested northwestern Syrian province of Idlib.

“Together with Turkey’s president, we have outlined additional joint steps to neutralize the terrorists’ nests in Idlib and normalize the situation there and in the whole of Syria as a result,” Putin told a joint briefing with Erdogan.

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Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani said Iran has constantly attached importance to safeguarding security in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, adding, "The Islamic Republic of Iran takes it upon itself to maintain the security of regional waterways."

"Security of regional waterways must only be established by littoral states and the presence of American forces and their inviting other countries to be present in the region will only aggravate the existing problems and tensions," the Iranian president pointed out.

Speaking to reporters before leaving Tehran for Ankara on Sunday, Rouhani said what is currently going on in the Middle East region is the result of the US' plots and wrong plans, urging regional countries to resolve the existing crises through dialog.

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Iran's President Rouhani says the current crises in the Middle East are the result of US plots and wrong plans.

“Today, what is taking place in this region and has concerned many countries of the world is the result of erroneous plans and conspiracies of the United States,” Iran's president said, adding, “We have declared time and again that regional issues must be resolved by regional countries and through dialog.”

In his Monday meeting, Rouhani also hailed Turkey's clear stance on the US’ cruel sanctions against Iran and said, "Iran and Turkey will continue their all-out economic relations despite problems."

Back in June, the presidents of Iran and Turkey expressed their opposition to any kind of sanctions and unilateralism in international relations.

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Presidents of Iran and Turkey say they are against any kind of sanctions and unilateralism in international relations.

Iran is keen to expand relations with Turkey in all fields, particularly in economic and trade sectors, Rouhani said in a meeting with his Turkish counterpart in Tajikistan's capital of Dushanbe.

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The Turkish president, for his part, said the US sanctions against Iran have failed to bear any fruit.

As an important symbol of the success of dialog and diplomacy, Turkey attaches importance to saving the 2015 nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), reached between Iran and major world powers, Erdogan added.

He noted that the Iranian and Turkish nations and governments have stood and will stand by each other in hard times.

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He also said that Tehran-Moscow-Ankara cooperation has led to very good achievements for the stability and security of Syria and the entire region and prevented human tragedies in different areas.

Erdogan expressed hope that the ongoing summit in Ankara would help promote stability and security in the region and particularly in Syria's Idlib.

Rouhani: US seeks disorder in world, violates intl. regulations

In a separate meeting with the Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the trilateral Ankara summit on Monday, Iran’s President Rouhani noted that the US government seeks disorder in the world and continues to violate international regulations and laws.

"Today, America seeks disorder in the world and keeps violating international regulations one after the other, so we have to stand up to unilateralism by expanding our cooperation," he said.

Iran’s president then noted, "At the present time, after the United States withdrew from the JCPOA without reason, the other parties to the agreement, especially Russia, can play a positive role in saving the deal."

Rouhani emphasized that the JCPOA is an important international agreement and a symbol of diplomatic settlement of an issue.

"Iran's moves in reducing its JCPOA obligations are steps towards maintaining the deal, and Iran is ready to return to its commitments if the other parties do so," he added.

Iran’s president noted that consultations and friendly interaction between senior Iranian and Russian officials within various international organizations, including the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, will benefit both nations and the entire region."

"The two countries' use of national currency in trade relations has been increasing over the past months and will continue," he said.

Rouhani said continued cooperation among Iran, Russia and Turkey within framework of the Astana Process was important in the development of lasting security and stability in Syria, adding, "Today, Syria is going through sensitive conditions and its government has gained good grounds against terrorists.”

"The most important thing for Syria now is the implementation of agreements related to clearing Idlib of terrorists and stabilizing the region."

Putin, for his part, said Tehran and Moscow enjoyed good relations in various field of international cooperation, especially within the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union.

Noting that Russia welcomes Iran's presence in the Eurasian Economic Union and sees it as an important opportunity for the development of bilateral and regional cooperation, Putin said, "Russia is also committed to continuation of cooperation with Iran in the fields of defense as well as military and nuclear collaboration."

Putin lauded Iran’s role in resolving regional issues, particularly in promoting a political mechanism for resolving the Syrian crisis, combating terrorist groups, and forming a constitutional committee in the country, stressing that Moscow's position is to preserve the JCPOA and to work in this direction.

"Russia is committed to the JCPOA and considers the International Atomic Energy Agency's monitoring of Iran's nuclear activities the most important indicator of Iran's compliance with its obligations."

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