Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 22
By Fatih Karimov – Trend:
Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan criticized Russia on unveiling usage of Nojeh airbase in Iran’s western Hamadan city by its bomber planes.
He referred to the Russian side’s move on sharing the news with public as “show off,” Iran’s state TV 2 reported.
Russians are keen on showing that they are a superpower and can greatly impact security trends, he said, adding that they wish to appear as an effective agent in the scene of operations in Syria so that they will be able to negotiate with the US and guarantee their own part in Syria’s political future.
“Neither any base has been given to the Russians, nor they will remain in Iran,” Dehghan said.
Iran only helped Russia by permitting the planes to refuel in Nojeh airbase, he said.
The Russian planes’ presence in Iran came on the request of Syrian government, the Iranian minister underlined.
The terrorists in Syria have been seriously equipped by the US and Saudi Arabia, Dehghan claimed, adding fighting against them requires heavy land attacks and powerful support by air strikes, and Russians use the Iranian airbase in this regard.
Earlier Dehghan said that Russian planes will use Nojeh airbase as long as necessary, adding the Russian bombers refuel and take weapons at the airbase.
On Aug. 16, Russia said its bomber planes are deployed in Iran and from there the bombers launch attacks on the IS (Islamic State, ISIS, aka ISIL) terrorist group's positions in Syria.
Some Iranian politicians’ raised concerns on the issue, saying the move is against the Islamic Republic’s constitution.