Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 22
By Fatih Karimov – Trend:
Russia's use of Nojeh airbase in Iran’s western Hamadan for attacking terrorists in Syria has ended for now, the Islamic Republic’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Bahram Ghasemi, said.
Iran has very close and strategic ties with Syria in certain areas including fighting the IS (Islamic State, ISIS, aka ISIL) terrorist group and Tehran spares no effort in this regard, Ghasemi said, Tasnim news agency reported Aug. 22.
Iran has an agreement with Russia for joint actions, he said, adding that using Iran’s airspace for attacking terrorists was with prior notice and Tehran’s permission.
Ghasemi also said that Russia doesn't have a base in Iran, and it doesn't have deployed units in Iran.
Speaking about Russia's use of Nojeh airbase, Ghasemi said that it was a one-time thing, and it is over now.
Earlier Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan criticized Russia on unveiling usage of Nojeh airbase by its bomber planes.
He referred to the Russian side’s move on sharing the news with public as “show off” which was done without prior notice.
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.
Some Iranian politicians’ raised concerns on the issue, saying the move is against the Islamic Republic’s constitution.