Speaking at a meeting with a delegation from Russia’s CIS institute in Tehran, SCFR President Dr. Kamal Kharrazi said: “The world is changing, and constant consultations between Iran and Russia are useful in exploring international crises and events and trying to find appropriate solutions for them.”

Dr. Kharrazi, pointed out that US military strikes against countries in the region without UN Security Council approval in recent decades have been tragic and a matter of deep regret. He noted: “The United States supports regimes that commit crimes and kill innocent people and completely ignores the issue of human rights. Washington has supported the evident crimes perpetrated by Saudi Arabia and the UAE in Yemen and turned a blind eye to the Saudi support for terrorist groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra and ISIS in Syria.

Blasting Washington for its wrong policies in the region, including in Afghanistan, Kharrazi said: “The US presence in Afghanistan after 17 years has not helped establish stability and security in the country.”

Underscoring the need for the US troops to withdraw from Afghanistan, the SCFR President noted that the United States must accept responsibility for the damages that its presence in Afghanistan has caused.” He added, “At present, the main danger is attempts by the US to help strengthen ISIS in Afghanistan to hurt Iran, Russia and China.”

Dr. Kharrazi, referring to two unfounded claims by the US, noted: “The US on the one hand claims that they have defeated ISIS, which is not true; On the other hand, they portray Iran as the cause of instability in the region while Iran itself is a factor of stability in the region.”

Reiterating that Washington’s unilateral approaches threaten international security, Kharrazi noted: “It is therefore vital for Iran and Russia to forge close cooperation against terrorism and instability in the region.” He said Iran and Russia, which have collaborated with the Syrian government upon demands by Damascus to counter terrorism, are subjected to US pressure and sanctions. This is under conditions that Iran and Russia were fighting against ISIS and the al-Nusra Front in Syria to prevent instability in the region.

Dr. Kharrazi emphasized that Iran’s influence in Syria as it aims at countering terrorism and supporting independent states of the region is spiritual.

In conclusion, Dr. Kharrazi said the United States is opposed to the policies of Iran and Russia in the region, adding: “American plots against Iran and Russia in some countries of the region and efforts to bring governments towing the US line to power are crystal clear.”

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Duma and founder of the CIS institute, emphasizing the expanse of Iran-Russia common interests in the region, said: “Iran-Russia cooperation in Syria is significant despite the US decision to further boycott Iran and Russia’s determination to maintain its independence.”

He emphasized that the United States is trying to bring some of the Eurasian states into its own line, and noted: “Russia welcomes stronger presence and cooperation of Iran in the Central Asian region in the interest of stability.”

Referring to the regional relations of the two countries, the Russian lawmaker considered Tehran-Moscow cooperation in the Caspian region and the prevention of the presence of foreign forces imperative.”