Iran, Russia armed forces must boost anti-terror fight: Military chief

The armed forces of Iran and Russia should boost their cooperation in the fight against terrorism given the ongoing very sensitive situation in the region and across the world, Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri says.

“The success of the armed forces of the two countries in the process of combating terrorism in Syria and the defeat of Takfiri terrorists and their supporters in the region indicate the determination and capacities of Iran and Russia to counter the existing threats,” Baqeri said in a meeting with Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vice Admiral lgor Osipov in Tehran on Tuesday.

“The geopolitical and geo-strategic capacities of Iran and Russia necessitate that the two countries’ armed forces develop their cooperation areas from a long-term perspective and devise plans and manage them within the framework of the [Iran-Russia] joint military commission’s agreements,” the top Iranian commander added.

Iran has been offering military advisory support to Syria at the request of the Damascus government, enabling its army to speed up its gains on various fronts against terror outfits.

However, over the past few years, Israel, the closest ally of the US has frequently attacked military targets inside Syria in an attempt to prop up terrorist groups that have been suffering defeats in the battle against Syrian government forces.

Syria has on several occasions written to the UN, complaining that the US was flagrantly violating its sovereignty. The US supports militants fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad and has repeatedly attacked Syrian army positions.

Back in August, Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami hailed the steadfastness of the Syrian people and government forces in their battle against terrorism, expressing confidence that they will achieve a final victory in this path.

Syria will achieve final victory over terrorism: Iran

The Iranian defense minister says the Syrian people and government forces will definitely achieve a final victory in the battle against terrorism.

“Not only regional people, but people around the world are indebted to the fight carried out against terrorists in Syria,” Hatami said in a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.

Osipov, for his part, briefed the Iranian military chief on the process of establishing Iran-Russia joint military commission and the agreements reached between the two sides.

He said Tehran and Moscow can bolster cooperation in many fields given their deep-rooted relations.

Iran, Russia to boost marine cooperation

Iran’s Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said the Iranian and Russian navies would further expand their marine cooperation.

“We seek to accelerate and develop cooperation in the two geopolitical areas of the Caspian Sea and the Southern Fleet [in the Persian Gulf],” Khanzadi told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting with the Russian deputy chief of general staff of the Armed Forces.

He noted that the two sides discussed technical and educational cooperation and holding tactical maneuvers, particularly the fight against piracy in the South Sea.