Iran, Russia confer on Syrian situation in length

TEHRAN, Feb. 02 (MNA) – Leader’s Senior Adviser on International Affairs Ali Akbar Velayati and Russia's Special Envoy on Syria Alexander Lavrentiev discussed Syrian crisis in a Mon. meeting in Moscow. Ali Akbar Velayati who also serves as the Head of Strategic Research Center at the Expediency Council held an important and lengthy meeting on the Syrian crisis with Russia's Special Envoy on Syria Alexander Lavrentiev on Monday evening in the Russian capital. During the meeting, the two sides especially discussed mutual cooperation within the framework of quadrilateral cooperation between Iran, Russia, Iraq and Syria against the terrorist groups. In addition to examining various regional issues, the two officials expressed common views on a comprehensive and political solution to Syrian crisis and highlighted a Syrian-Syrian dialogue and respect for the legitimate rights of Syrian people for deciding their own destiny without any foreign intervention and participation of terrorist groups. Velayati arrived in Moscow on Monday for a four-day visit at the invitation of the head of the Russian Strategic Studies Institute. He has already met with a number of senior Russian officials and further meetings are also on his agenda. Speaking to reporters, Velayati had earlier said Tehran and Moscow have adopted common stands on Syria and both sides deem regional issues highly significant. Iran and Russia both oppose interference in Syria’s internal affairs and call for a political solution to settle the conflict for the same reason they back peace talks on Syria that are currently underway for the fourth consecutive day in Geneva under the supervision of UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura.