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Russia wants to restore stability in Middle East - Khamenei’s adviser

"Russia, Iran and Syria are constructively interacting with each other in the interests of the whole region. Their common aim is to secure peace," Ali Akbar Velayati said

BEIRUT, December 2 /TASS/. Russia’s actions are aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Middle East, Ali Akbar Velayati, a political adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in an interview with the Al Mayadeen pan-Arabic TV channel on Tuesday.

"Russia is an influential state in the international arena which is playing a decisive role in stabilising the situation in the region. It is doing it legitimately," Velayati said commenting the Russian military operation in Syria and the deployment of the S-400 air defense systems at Hmeymim air base in Latakia (Syria).

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Iranian leader’s top adviser commends Putin’s strong position on Syria

Velayati who headed Iran’s Foreign Ministry from 1981 to 1997 noted that Moscow and Tehran had had strategic relations for a long period of time.

"Russia, Iran and Syria are constructively interacting with each other in the interests of the whole region. Their common aim is to secure peace," the Iranian politician said.

Velayati said that the downing of the Russian Su-24M bomber by Turkey over Syria on November 24 had certainly increased tensions in relations between Moscow and Ankara.

"We are exerting efforts to defuse the tensions," he added.

In his interview, Velayati said that Iran would continue supporting the government of President Bashar al-Assad. He believes that the Syrian army will regain control over the whole of Syria sooner or later and that Iran’s partnership with Moscow, Damascus and Hezbollah will lead to the Syrian state’s victory and the defeat of terrorists.

At the same time, Ayatollah Khamenei’s adviser said that a political settlement without external interference through the general election was the only way to end the Syrian crisis. Velayati made it clear that a settlement that would ignore the Syrian government and its people would be unacceptable for Tehran.

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