Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei told the visiting Russian President, Vladimir Putin, in Tehran that the US has a long-term plan to dominate the entire West Asian region, cautioning that Washington is also seeking to achieve its goals through negotiations after its failure in the battlefield in Syria.

Speaking during the meeting with the Russian president that lasted for almost two hours, the Iranian Supreme Leader praised Moscow’s effective presence on regional scenes, specially Syria, and welcomed further expansion of “bilateral, regional and international cooperation”.

He said the US has a long-term plan to dominate the entire region of West Asia. “This long-term plan of the United States is harmful to all the nations and countries, specially Iran and Russia and it should be defused through vigilance and closer interaction.”

The Iranian Leader described Putin as a remarkable figure in the contemporary world, and appreciated Russia’s efforts in resolving Iran’s nuclear issue.

Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran’s nuclear issue seems to be in its last chapter, “but we do not at all trust the Americans and are watching the US administration’s behavior and performance in this regard with our eyes open wide”.

He further noted the seriousness that both the Russian president and Iranian officials have shown to expand bilateral ties between the two states, and said the Tehran-Moscow cooperation can be promoted way beyond its present level, specially in economic fields.

The Iranian leader also praised the Russian president’s stances on different issues, particularly in the last one and a half years, as “very good” and “innovative”, and said, “Americans always try to push their rivals into a passive stance, but you have defused this policy.”

He voiced satisfaction in Iran-Russia security and political cooperation, and said Moscow’s decision and moves on the Syrian issue have increased the regional and global credit of both Russia and Mr. Putin.

“The Americans are seeking to first dominate Syria and then spread their control over the region in a bid to fill their historical gap of lack of domination and control over West Asia, and this long-term plot is a threat to all nations and states, Russia and Iran in particular,” Ayatollah Khamenei warned.

The Iranian leader also cautioned that the “Americans and their allies are attempting to achieve the goals that they have failed to attain through military action in Syria through politics and negotiations”, and reiterated that the US plot should be defused through smart moves and adoption of an active position.

Ayatollah Khamenei further pointed out that the US insistence on removing Bashar al-Assad, who is the legal and elected president of the Syrian people, as “among the weak points of Washington’s declared policies”, and reminded that the Syrian president has risen to power after winning the majority vote of the people from different political streams, religious groups and ethnicities, “and the United States has no right to ignore the vote and election of the Syrian people”.

“As regards Syria, any solution should be pursued after the country’s people and officials are informed and voice consent,” the Iranian Leader emphasized.

Ayatollah Khamenei also mentioned the United States’ direct and indirect aid to the terrorist groups, including ISIL, as among the other obvious weak points of Washington policies, and stated, “The United States’ cooperation with those countries that have been left with no credit in the region and world public opinion due to their support for terrorists displays that the Americans do not have an honorable diplomacy.”

“And that’s why we do not and will not take part in any bilateral negotiations with the Americans neither on Syria nor on any other topic, except the nuclear issue” that had its own specific and unique reasons, added the Leader.

The Iranian Supreme Leader viewed “a proper solution of the Syrian issue as highly important and influential in the future of the region, and cautioned that “if the terrorists that are committing these crimes in Syria are not suppressed, the magnitude of their destructive activities will spread to Central Asia and other regions”.

Also, during the landmark meeting in Tehran on Monday, the Russian president described Tehran as “a trustworthy and reliable ally in the region and the world”, and vowed not to betray his partnership with Iran under any condition.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is an independent and solid strong country with very good prospects, and we see you as a trustworthy and reliable ally in the region and the world,” the Russian president said at the meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei today.

“Unlike certain parties, we are committed to never stab our partners in the back or take any behind-the-stage move against our friends and to resolve any differences that may arise through dialogue,” he added.

The Russian leader further described the two countries’ position on Syria as “very close”, and reiterated the crucial importance of the two states’ cooperation in this regard.

“We also stress that the Syrian crisis can only be resolved through political means and people’s vote and accepting the demands of all Syrian peoples and groups, and no one has the right to impose his views on the people of that country to decide about the government structure and fate of the president of Syria,” Putin continued.

“As your Excellency stated, the Americans are seeking to obtain the goals that they have failed to materialize through the clashes in Syria at the negotiating table and we are taking note of this issue,” he added.

The Russian leader laid further emphasis on his country’s continued attacks on the terrorist groups in Syria, and termed Tehran-Moscow cooperation and consultation over the process of the political solution of the Syrian issue “fully necessary”.

“Those who claim to be advocates of democracy cannot oppose elections in Syria,” Putin said. At the end of the meeting, the Russian president presented an ancient manuscript of the Holy Quran to the Iranian leader that showed his deep understanding of Ayatollah Khamenei.