Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan said Iran fully supports the Russian air operation in Syria and will render further assistance to it. According to Dehqan, Tehran cooperates with Russia in supporting the legitimate Syrian authorities, “whose official request gives ground for our country’s presence in Syria”, Fars News Agency was cited as saying by TASS. “We utterly and completely support the actions of the Russian Aerospace Forces.” Dehqan further said ground campaigns conducted on Syrian territory need air support and for this purpose, Iran renders assistance to Russian aircraft, particularly at Nojeh Air Base near the western city of Hamedan. “This cooperation has been present for a limited period of time on the basis of their request and our reply,” he said, adding that the cooperation will continue if need be. Dehqan stressed that the issue of granting an Iranian military base to Russia has never been raised, as it is prohibited by the Iranian Constitution.
