Russia's Ambassador to Israel Alexander Shein has rejected Israeli media claims about the presence of Iran, and Tehran-backed forces in Syria after recent conclusion by Jordan, Russia, and the United States of a memorandum on principles of ceasefire in Syria's southern de-escalation zone, by noting that the aim of Iran’s activities in the country was to fight terrorism, Sputnik reported.
The trilateral memorandum was signed on November 8. In their November 11 joint statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart praised conclusion of the document, saying that Amman Monitoring Center will continue to monitor the ceasefire arrangement in this area. Shein noted, that the document was confidential. However, Israeli media reports suggested that the agreement stipulated withdrawal of foreign militants, including Iran and Tehran-backed forces, from the Syria territory, particularly close to the Israeli border. Israeli media said the deal did not fully meet Israeli security interest, and the country's political and military community was disappointed by the accord. Israel will not be bound by the agreement, and will continue to operate across the border when it considers it necessary, the media added.
"Russia consistently acts in conformity with norms and principles of the international law that legitimates the Iranian presence in Syria. The aim of this presence is confined to war on terrorism. To this end, Russia cooperates with Iran in Syria," Shein said in a comment, published on the embassy's Facebook page on Monday.
Shein added there was no reason to "overestimate the significance" of the trilateral memorandum. "Russia respects the Israeli concerns in the field of national security," he pointed out.
