Putin meets Iran’s Rouhani as ties deepen

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday was hosting his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani for talks that are being closely watched for signs of their next moves in Syria.

Rouhani’s first official visit to Russia comes as the two backers of the Syrian regime push for ways to end the six-year conflict in the country, having done much to marginalize US influence in peace talks.

At the start of their meeting, Putin told Rouhani that Moscow and Tehran “work very effectively, practically on all fronts, in international action and the resolution of major and very grave international problems,” state television showed.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said ahead of Rouhani’s trip that the leaders would discuss “regional issues especially the Syrian crisis, solutions to end it quickly,” as well as ways to counter “terrorism and extremism.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 28, 2017. (Sergei Karpukhin/AFP)

The visit also comes as splits emerge between the countries, the primary allies of Syria, over the role to be played by Turkey, which is backing opponents of the regime.

Moscow has formed an unlikely alliance with Ankara since 2016, envisioning Turkey as part of a solution to the Syrian conflict.

But Iran has been more wary about Turkey’s involvement in efforts to end hostilities, with tensions mounting after Moscow and Ankara left Tehran out of a truce they brokered in December.

Rouhani — accompanied by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh and other high-ranking officials — is expected to sign a slew of economic cooperation agreements with Russia, according to Iranian state media.

The Kremlin said in a statement this month that Rouhani’s trip would focus in part on “the prospects of expanding trade, economic and investment ties.”

It said that a “variety of bilateral documents” would be signed at the end of the meeting but did not specify in which fields.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani takes part in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall in Moscow on March 28, 2017. Maxim Shemetov/AFP)

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier Tuesday that Moscow was striving to bolster its relations with Tehran, which he said had “very solid potential.”

After arriving on Monday, Rouhani met Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, with the Iranian president saying he hoped his visit would mark a “new turning point” in relations, Russian state media reported.

Election boost for Rouhani?

In addition to cooperation on Syria, energy and defense ties have deepened between Iran and Russia despite meager trade relations.

Russia is to build nine of Iran’s 20 proposed nuclear reactors and has emerged as a long-term arms partner, supplying Tehran with its S-300 air defense missile system.

The relationship has blossomed under Rouhani despite the countries having a complicated history over territory, oil and Communist ideology.

Rouhani is looking to boost Iran’s economy ahead of elections in May, in which he is expected to stand for a second term.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 28, 2017. (Sergei Karpukhin/AFP)

Iran and Russia have become increasingly allied in Syria, providing support that has propped up President Bashar Assad.

They helped Assad’s forces gain ground in recent months, including in the Syrian army’s major offensive last year to retake rebel-held eastern Aleppo.

Russia’s entry into the conflict in September 2015 — when it began launching air strikes to shore up Assad’s forces — helped turn the tide for the Syrian regime, while Iran has provided military advisers and front-line militia fighters.

More than 310,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict broke out in March 2011 with protests against Assad’s rule.