Tehran, Iran, Oct. 2
By Temkin Jafarov, Mehdi Sepahvand -- Trend:
An Iranian MP has said the fact that Russia has engaged in war with terrorists in Syria is because Moscow has realized it will face the ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) threat sooner or later.
Russia has come to understand that if it doesn't do something, the ISIL will turn its threat toward it and create problems for the country, so they preferred to fight the ISIL in Syria where the terrorist group is based, Esmail Kosari told Trend Oct. 2.
"That is what's made Russia fight terrorism alongside Iran," the MP said, adding that the whole world has realized it is better to fight the terrorist group sooner than later.
"Russia got the point quicker than others and now they are trying to prevent ISIL access to their borders."
In answer to the question if Iran intends to send troops and military equipment to Syria, Esmaili said for now Iran's cooperation is limited to military consultation.
Since the beginning, Iran said it would offer consultation, transferring the experience it gained in the eight years of war with Iraq, he said.
"We used to have the Monafeqin (the MEK group) as terrorists inside our country. They killed over 16 thousand people. We have rich experience and we convey that to the officials and public forces of Syria to enable them fight the siege of their country and crush the ISIL and the Nusrah Front," the MP added.
On the sideline of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly in New York Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem Oct. 2.
Iran, Syria top diplomat's meeting occurred while Russia, another ally of Bashar al-Assad started air strikes over ISIL.
On Oct. 1, Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu said Ankara is concerned over the Russian air forces' operation in Syria due to the information that the air strikes were inflicted on civilians.
Earlier, Russia's President Vladimir Putin appealed to the country's Federation Council for a permission to use the Russian armed forces abroad. The Federation Council granted the request.
The head of the Kremlin administration, Sergei Ivanov told reporters Sept. 30 that the decision concerns Syria and the matter rests only in an operation of the air forces.
Russia earlier sent its warplanes to Syria after a request from Damascus.
Edited by CN