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'Iran did not allocate military base to Russia': Tehran

17 August 2016 21:28 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on Wednesday refuted allegations that Tehran had permitted Russia to use an airbase in its western Hamedan region to strike positions in Syria, APA reports quoting Anadolu agency.

Larijani later rejected reports claiming Iran had reserved its military base for Russia recalling the existence of a law that bans all foreign presence on military bases.

"Iran cooperates with Russia, as its ally, on regional issues like Syria. That cooperation does not mean that we have allocated our military base to Russia." Larrijani said. "Iran has not allocated a military base to Russia or any foreign countries."

Citing the Russian Defense Ministry, certain media outlets said Tuesday that TU-22M3 and SU-34 jets took flight from Hamedan Airbase to strike targets in Syria.

Before Hamedan Airbase, Russian forces had been using Khmeimim Airbase in Syria or in Russian territories.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov added on Wednesday: "Russia’s using Iranian airbase for striking Syria does not contradicts UN Security Council resolutions."

In his address to the media, Lavrov responded to criticism from the U.S., saying: “There is nothing to violate the UN Security Council. These fighter jets join operations in Syria with the approval of Iran.”

U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner stated on Tuesday Russia's use of the Iranian airbase was "unfortunate, but not surprising or unexpected” and if true, could be a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that prohibits the supply, sale and transfer of combat aircraft to Iran unless the council approves.