Russia won't create full-fledged base in Iran

Russia might again use Iran's Hamadan airbase in the future but will not create a full-fledged military base in the country, an analyst has said.

Russia and Iran share information and support each other in fighting terrorism, Sputnik quoted Vladislav Shurygin as saying.

"It is a partnership. As for Hamadan, Iran provided an airfield for temporary purposes," said Shurygin, adding that Russian bombers could use the airfield to conduct airstrikes against terrorist targets in Syria.

He said Russia and Iran are working together to fight terrorism in Syria and Iraq, but Russia will not deploy a military base in Iran.

Beginning on August 16, Russian bombers took off from the Hamadan base in western Iran for three consecutive days to strike terrorist targets in Syria.

Russia then halted the operation and withdrew its aircraft from Iran.

It was the first time Russia has used the territory of another nation, apart from Syria itself, to launch such strikes since Moscow started a bombing campaign against the IS targets inside Syria in September last year.

--IANS

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