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Fight against Islamic state

Russian Air Force to use Hamedan base for as long as required — Iranian minister

Iran offers its base to Russia in cooperation against IS

A Tupolev Tu-22M3 long-range bomber carries out airstrikes against ISIS and Al-Nusra Front targets in the Aleppo, Dayr al-Zawr and Idlib Governorates. This is the first time Russia's Aerospace Forces carry out air strikes against terrorist targets in Syria operating from Iran's Hamedan Air Base Video screen grab/Russian Defence Ministry's Press and Information Department/TASS

A Tupolev Tu-22M3 long-range bomber carries out airstrikes against ISIS and Al-Nusra Front targets in the Aleppo, Dayr al-Zawr and Idlib Governorates. This is the first time Russia's Aerospace Forces carry out air strikes against terrorist targets in Syria operating from Iran's Hamedan Air Base

© Video screen grab/Russian Defence Ministry's Press and Information Department/TASS

TEHRAN, August 20. /TASS/. Russian aircraft will be using the Shahid Nojeh air base in Hamedan for as long as it is required, Iran’s Defense Minister Brigade General Hossein Dehghan said during a news conference on Saturday.

"For as long as they need," he replied to a question for how long Russian aircraft will be using the base of the Iranian Air Force in Hamedan for strikes against terrorists in Syria.

Read also

Russia’s bombers make third raid from airdrome in Iran to attack IS

According to Dehghan, Iran’s decision to allow the Russian Air Space Force to use the airdrome of the Shahid Nojeh air base in Hamedan is a part of cooperation in fighting the Islamic State terrorist group at request from the Syrian government.

"It is a military decision made in the framework of cooperation in fighting IS and other terrorist, which is organized at request from the Syrian government," he said.

He also commented on criticism of the Russian aircraft’s presence in the country from the Iranian parliament: "Mejlis has nothing to do with this topic."

While giving a reply to a question about the situation in Syria, the defense minister said IS was "in the throes."

"Very soon, you will be able to see results of the anti-terrorist actions by Iran and Russia in Syria," he told the reporters.

On Tuesday, Russian planes for the first time used the Iranian airdrome Hamadan to bomb terrorists in Syria.

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