Iran’s Shamkhani, Russian President’s Envoy Discuss Regional Issues

TEHRAN (defapress) – Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani and Russian President Special Envoy on Syria Alexander Lavrentiev held talks about the latest developments in the Middle East, particularly in Syria.

News ID: 65850

Date: 05 September 2017 - 19:14

In the meeting, held in Tehran on Tuesday, Shamkhani hailed recent advances of the Syrian army and allied forces against foreign-backed terrorists in Deir ez-Zor and said that strategic cooperation among Iran, Russia, Syria and the Resistance Front in the "real campaign against terrorism” is constantly yielding valuable results.

He further stressed the need for all countries and groups to respect Syria’s national sovereignty and said all parties’ commitment to a Syrian-Syrian solution and the people’s self-determination right will pave the ground for ending the crisis.

Lavrentiev, for his part, briefed Shamkhani on Russia’s latest diplomatic efforts and talks with other countries on Syria and highlighted the decisive role of Iran, Russia, and Syria in the fight against terrorism.

Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups, including Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL), currently controlling parts of it.

According to a report by the Syrian Center for Policy Research, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 470,000 people, injured 1.9 million others, and displaced nearly half of the country’s pre-war population of about 23 million within or beyond its borders.

In the meantime, Iran and Russia have remained close allies of Syria and support its legitimate government in the face of foreign-backed militancy.