Iran and Russia Share Facilities in Anti-Terror Fight: Shamkhani

“Cooperation between Iran and Russia in fighting terrorism in Syria is strategic and we exchange potentials and facilities,” IRNA quoted Shamkhani as saying when asked about Russia’s use of Iran’s air base.

“With the constructive and broad cooperation among Iran, Russia, Syria and the Resistance Front, the conditions have become so harsh for the terrorists,” Shamkhani said.

The trilateral cooperation will continue with “new and extensive operations” until militants are “annihilated,” he said.

The remarks came after Russia’s Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday, August 16, that it had deployed Tu-22M3 bombers and Su-34 strike fighters to Iran and these have already carried out airstrikes against terrorists in Syria.

“On August 16, 2016, Tu-23M3 long-range bombers and Su-34 bombers, having taken off from their base in Hamadan [Islamic Republic of Iran], carried out group airstrikes against targets belonging to the ISIS and Nusra Front terrorist groups in the provinces of Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor and Idlib,” the ministry said in a statement, as cited by Sputnik.

Iran and Russia, known as the main allies of Syria, have been looking for a solution to a crisis that has plagued the Arab country for years.