Vow to Keep Up Anti-Terror Ties With Russia

Defense Minister Amir Hatami says Iran is set to keep up its counter-terrorism cooperation with Russia until Syria and the entire region are fully cleansed of terrorist outfits. Hatami made the remarks on Tuesday after a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, in Moscow, where he was to take part in an international security conference, Press TV reported. The Iranian defense chief hailed his meeting with Shoigu, saying they had discussed bilateral defense ties as well as regional and international cooperation. The two sides, Hatami said, exchanged views on counter-terrorism fight, the main issue on the agenda of the Moscow Conference on International Security, which started on Wednesday. "As promised to the Syrian nation and regional nations, this cooperation will continue until the total annihilation of terrorists and the liberation of regional nations from the scourge of terrorism," Hatami said. He also praised the opportunity provided by the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement to expand Tehran-Moscow relations in different areas, including defense, technology and education. The Russian defense minister said joint Iran-Russia efforts in Syria have led to "appreciable results".