Putin, Rowhani agree to intensify contacts

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rowhani make their way prior to attending the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, GECF, summit meeting in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Nov. 23, 2015. (AP)

By Agencies Monday, 28 March 2016

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rowhani, agreed in a telephone call to intensify bilateral contacts at various levels, the Kremlin said on Monday.
The two leaders discussed the Syrian conflict and exchanged views on topical issues on their bilateral agenda, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Their phone call conversation came after Putin also spoke by phone with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday, congratulating him on his forces retaking Palmyra, the Kremlin said.

Iran also hailed the Syrian army’s recapture of the ancient city of Palmyra and vowed to continue to support Asasd’s government to fight “terrorism”, media reported Monday.

Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, sent a message to Assad to congratulate him on Sunday’s “admirable and honorable” win over ISIS.

Iran’s government and its armed forces “will continue to provide Syria with their full support” against the jihadists, Shamkhani said, according to the official news agency IRNA.

Iran provides financial and military support to Assad through its elite Revolutionary Guards, notably sending “military advisers” and volunteers” to fight alongside the Syrian army.

Guards chief Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said “the situation in Syria is very good” after the recapture of Palmyra, Fars news agency reported.

Foreign ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari also lauded Syria’s victory and said that Tehran will continue to back the Assad regime and other governments battling extremism.

“Iran’s support continues for the fight against terrorism in Syria, Iraq and countries exposed to this threat,” Ansari told Iran's Arabic-language Al-Alam television.

“Syria will march forward strongly in the fight against terrorism and the terrorists definitely won't have a place in the future of the region,” he added.

Syrian troops ousted the militants from the ancient city on Sunday almost a year after they had seized it.

(With Reuters, AFP)