PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin with Iran’s Supreme Leader, November 23, 2015
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Iran has repeated that there are no differences with Russia over the approach to Syria’s crisis.
“There is no disagreement between Iran and Russia with regard to Syria,” Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Sunday. “The two countries diligently assist the Syrian army in its fight against terrorism.”
Moscow and Tehran, the main allies propping up the Assad regime, coordinated a large-scale military intervention from September 30. Russia began widespread bombing across Syria, while Iran put in commanders and troops and led foreign militia in a six-front offensive — five against rebels and one against the Islamic State — throughout the northwest of the country.
Iran also supported Russia’s efforts to convene an international conference which would accept the rule of President Assad, at least in the short term.
However, while Iran has said that Assad must be able to stand in elections, calling this a “red line”, Russia has not made such a commitment.
The Supreme Leader’s top advisor, Ali Akbar Velayati, insisted on December 6:
Russians seek coordination with Iran in measures against terrorist groups. The Russians at times had had a different standpoint but they reached a common stance with Iran after consultation.
See Iran Daily, Dec 6: Supreme Leader’s Aide “We Have Common Stance with Russia on Syria”
Amir-Abdollahian said on Sunday:
Iran’s military advisors ceaselessly continue their efforts toward fighting terrorism….
Moscow’s measures are taken to fight terrorism in Syria and are coordinated with the government in Damascus and are assessed as positive.
Picture: Revolutionary Guards Name New Commander of Forces in Syria
The Revolutionary Guards have named Brigadier General Gholam Hossein Gheibparvar (left) as the new commander of forces in Syria:
Gheibparvar replaces General Hossein Hamedani, who was killed on October 7 near the Syrian military’s frontline with the Islamic State east of Aleppo city.
Before taking the Syrian command, Gheibparvar led the Fajr Revolutionary Guards in Iran’s Fars Province.
Russia-Iran Cartoon Accuses Turkey’s Erdoğan of Shielding ISIS
On Saturday, 1st Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and offered to mediate a resolution of tensions between Turkey and Russia over the Syrian crisis.
See Iran Daily, Dec 13: Tehran Offers Mediation Between Russia and Turkey
However, the leading website Iranian Diplomacy does not seem to have gotten the message. It is tweeting an unflattering cartoon, taken from Russia’s Sputnik News, of Erdoğan shielding the Islamic State.
