Russia and Iran speak in favor of broad antiterrorist front, says Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW, August 4. /TASS/. Deputies to the foreign ministers of Russia and Iran, Mikhail Bogdanov and Hosein Amir-Abdollahian, spoke on Tuesday in favor of a broad antiterrorist front in view of a growing threat from Islamic State, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported. Russian president’s special envoy for Africa and the Middle East, Mikhail Bogdanov is currently in Tehran. "During an extensive exchange of opinions, special attention was paid to discussion on topical issues of the Middle East agenda, including the situation in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, the Palestinian problem, as well as efforts to counter terrorism," the ministry reported. Focusing on prospects for political settlement of the Syrian crisis, the sides in the consultations expressed deep concerns over a growing threat from Islamic State, speaking in favor of a broad antiterrorist front. "In this connection, Bogdnaov informed Iranian partners about the results of trilateral talks on Qatar on August 3, involving Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Ahmed al-Jubeir, where this issue was among the key ones," the ministry said. The two diplomats also discussed the situation in Yemen, confirming the fundamental stance of their countries to seek an early end to a bloody conflict in that country. They "expressed serious concern over a growing humanitarian disaster in Yemen and stressed that there was no alternative to the establishment of an inclusive dialogue involving the main political forces of Yemen under the UN aegis," the ministry added. They also highlighted commitment of Moscow and Tehran to sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen, it said. "With regard to a dynamically developing situation in the Middle East and in North Africa, they agreed to continue regular Russian-Iranian consultations on all aspects of the regional situation of mutual interest," the ministry said. Read more