Moscow, SANA – Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stressed the necessity of pooling efforts to counter terrorism and resolving the crisis in Syria.

During a joint press conference Moscow on Tuesday, the Russian president said “we believe it is important to further expand cooperation in combating international terrorism,” affirming that Russia and Iran are coordinating their steps to exterminate ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra and to promote Syrian settlement, adding that the ceasefire has been established in most of Syria thanks to joint efforts.

He noted that the participation of Russia and Iran, along with Turkey, as guarantor countries in the Astana talks is a major contribution to the progress of peaceful political settlement in Syria and in promoting intra-Syrian talks and the corresponding United Nations-mediated process in Geneva.

For his part, Rouhani said that the two sides discussed the political process in Syria and the cooperation of counter terrorism, affirming that Iran will continue cooperation with the other guarantor countries to resume the Astana process.

Presidents Putin and Rouhani also issued a joint statement after their talks in Moscow in which they exerted their strong support for the efforts exerted by the Syrian government in fighting terrorism represented by ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra, and other terror groups affiliated to them.

The statement underlined the efforts exerted by Russia, Iran, and Turkey to create suitable conditions for intra-Syrian dialogue in Astana and to allow for establishing an effective and sustainable cessation of combat activities in Syria, adding that the two sides view this cooperation as an important step towards the success of the Geneva talks.

Shaza / Hazem Sabbagh