Kremlin: Putin discussed ‘escalating situation’ in Syria with Iran’s Pezeshkian by phone

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed the situation in Syria with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian by phone, the Kremlin says in a statement.

“The focus was on the escalating situation in the Syrian Arab Republic,” the Kremlin says.

“Unconditional support was expressed for the actions of the legitimate authorities of Syria to restore constitutional order and to restore the political, economic and social stability of the Syrian State.”

Insurgents led by jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a two-pronged attack on Aleppo and the countryside around Idlib last week, notching major gains and dealing a huge embarrassment to Syrian leader Bashar Assad, while increasing pressure on his allies Iran and Russia — which are both preoccupied with their own conflicts.