TEHRAN – Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian president’s special envoy for the Middle East, is scheduled to take a trip to Iran on Monday for talks on the Syrian crisis.

Bogdanov plans to hold a meeting with Hossein Jaberi Ansari, the Iranian deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs, Russian Ambassador to Tehran Levan Dzhagaryan told the Tehran Times on Thursday.

Iran and Russia hold regular consultations on the Syrian conflict and Bogdanov’s visit is in line with such a policy.

In May, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the then deputy foreign minister for Arab affairs, travelled to Russia and met with Bogdanov and discussed the Syrian war.

The visit by the Russian deputy foreign minister will take place amid fierce fighting between the Syrian army and militants over the control of Aleppo, the second largest city in Syria.

Iran and Russia have been backing the Syrian government against militants who are backed by certain Arab regimes, like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Turkey and some Western countries.  

However, with a thaw in relation between Turkey and Russia it is expected that rivalry between the main power players in Syria to undergo some changes.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also visited Turkey on Friday with the Syria crisis on the top of the agenda.
 
Upon his arrival in Ankara, Zarif said Iran, Russia and Turkey are “important players in the Middle East region” and highlighted the importance of holding dialogue and cooperation to resolve problems.

NA/PA