TEHRAN – Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has called on Tehran and Moscow to boost their “bilateral, regional and international” ties, lauding Russia for his effective stance vis-à-vis regional issues, particularly those pertaining to the Syrian crisis.

In a two-hour meeting with visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tehran on Monday, Ayatollah Khamenei said the long-term policies of the Unites States in the region are unfavorable for all regional states, particularly Iran and Russia.

Rouhani visited Tehran on Monday to participate in the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) hosted by Iran. Seven other presidents also attended the forum in Tehran.

“Americans always want to defeat their rivals but you [Putin] foiled such attempts.”

He called on officials from Tehran and Moscow to act vigilantly in the face of U.S. policies in the region.

Ayatollah Khamenei said Americans, in their long-term policies, seek to dominate Syria and then expand their control over West Asia, which is a threat to all regional countries, especially to Iran and Russia.

What the U.S. and its followers failed to achieve through “military” approaches in Syria they are trying to gain through “political dialogue” and this should be prevented.

“Regarding the Syrian issue, a resolution must be proposed which is backed by the Syrian people and [its] officials,” the Leader noted.

The Leader also thanked Russia for his stance with regards to the Iran nuclear issue, and lauded Putin as a “leading character”.

“This issue (nuclear issue) has reached a result but we do not trust the Americans and are monitoring the behavior and performance of the U.S. government on this issue with open eyes,” the Leader noted.

Putin: We consider Iran as a reliable ally in the region and the world
Putin, in turn, expressed gratitude over his meeting with the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and thanked the Leader for sharing his invaluable experiences with him.

The Russian president called Iran an independent and firm country with a bright future which Moscow considers as “a reliable ally in the region and the world”.

“The expansion of the two countries’ relations, including in [the areas of] technology, aerospace, and advanced technologies has been enjoying a faster pace, and we are very happy to have a very active cooperation with the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran on [issues of] security and the resolution of regional and global crises,” Putin remarked.

“We are committed that, unlike some, never stab our partners from the back and we would never act against our friends behind the scenes. Even if we have a difference, we would reach an agreement through dialogue,” he added.

No country has right to decide about Syrian people, Putin says

Putin also stated that Iran and Russia share common stances with regard to the Syrian conflict, saying dialogue is the only way to resolve the Syrian issue and accepting the will of the Syrian nation.

“As Your Excellency [the Leader of the Islamic Revolution] stated, Americans want to bring to the negotiating table what they could not achieve in the battlefields of Syria, and we are cautious of this issue,” he added.

“Nobody has the right to impose his views on the Syrian people and decide on their behalf on the government system and the destiny of the Syrian president,” the Russian leader noted.

MD/PA