SOCHI, October 22. /TASS/. Iran regards Russia’s presence in Syria as "timely and responsible", Ali Larijani, the Iranian parliament speaker, said on Thursday.

"Unlike the US, Russia’s actions in the region influenced the essence of the problem and not on its propagandist image," Larijani told the session of the Valdai international discussion club.

He also said that Russia, China and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization were playing a major role in stimulating other countries wanting to join counter-terrorism efforts.