The United States has reacted
to Russia’s announcement that its fighter jets stopped using an airbase
in western Iran to target terrorists in Syria.
The US State Department on Monday said that it was unclear if Moscow's use of the airbase had "definitively stopped."
"We're
monitoring closely, we continue to. It's not clear to us other than
what we've seen in various press and public statements whether their use
of this airbase has definitively stopped, but we'll continue to watch
it closely,” State Department Spokesman Mark Toner said.
Toner
stated that the Russian-Iranian cooperation was part of the "alarming"
situation in Syria, but then added, “I'm not aware that we have
information one way or the other what's going on here.” US State Department Spokesman Mark Toner Earlier
on Monday, Russia's ambassador to Iran said all of his country’s
aircraft had left the Nojeh Airbase near the western Iranian city of
Hamedan.
“All Russian military currently left Iran’s Hamedan airbase,” Ambassador Levan said.
However,
the Russian Defense Ministry said in a separate statement that Moscow
could use the Iranian airbase again depending on the situation in Syria
and as long as Iran agreed.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman
also confirmed the end of Russia’s use of Nojeh Aairbase, saying the
move was part of an operational cooperation between Tehran and Moscow.
“Russia
has no base in Iran and is not stationed here. They did this
(operation) and it is finished for now," Bahram Qassemi told reporters. Spokesman
for the Iranian Foreign Ministry Bahram Qassemi speaks during his first
press conference in Tehran, Iran, August 22, 2016.Iranian
Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan had said that Russia
would be allowed to use the Nojeh base "for as long as they need.”
When
it was reported last week that Russia was using the Iranian airbase,
the US State Department called the move "unfortunate but not surprising"
and said that it was examining whether that was a violation of a United
Nations resolution.
Iran and Russia are Syria’s main allies and
have been assisting the government of President Bashar al-Assad in its
fight against foreign-backed terrorist groups, including Daesh
terrorists.
Since September 30, 2015, Russia has been conducting
airstrikes against Daesh and other terrorist groups in Syria at the
Syrian government’s request.
Iran has also been providing advisory assistance to the Syrian government.
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