Alwaght- Russian long-range Tu-22M3 bombers' use of Iran's airbase to strike ISIS positions in Syria is over for now, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi announced on Monday.
Speaking at a weekly press conference in Tehran, Qassemi said "Russia has no base in Iran and is not stationed here. They did this (operation) and it is finished for now."
Russian bombers have carried out rounds of airstrikes on terrorist targets in Syria operating from Nojeh airbase near Iran’s western city of Hamedan.
The Iranian diplomat noted that Tehran and Moscow had agreed to publicize such cooperation after the aerial operations.
He said Iran and Russia have developed strategic relations in certain areas, including fight against ISIS terrorist group, but made it clear that Russians have not been stationed in Iran and do not have any base inside the country either.
Tehran will spare no effort to honor an agreement with Moscow on joint action against terrorism, the spokesman underlined, saying Russia has used the Iranian airspace with Tehran’s prior permission as part of counter-terrorism collaborations.
On Saturday, Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said the Russian aircraft fly to the Iranian airbase to be either refueled or get reloaded, noting that they use the base for more effective operation against terrorist groups in Syria.
Dehqan also ruled out any plans for permitting Russian jets to use Iranian bases other than Nojeh at the moment, but said they can keep using the airbase as long as necessary.
"We have not given any military base to the Russians and they are not here to stay," Dehghan said.
