Iran FM: Main topic in Tehran Astana talks is de-escalation in Syria
Stability in Syria is first on the agenda.
On Monday, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian revealed that the main topic of the tripartite Astana talks in Tehran between Iran, Turkey, and Russia will be to de-escalate conflict zone tensions in Syria, in addition to maintaining stability in the country.
Amir-Abdollahian pointed out that the new security crisis between Syria and Turkey must be taken into account and handled appropriately, conveying Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi's message regarding that matter.
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It was reported that Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad will arrive in Tehran on Tuesday as the Astana Summit brews.
On Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office said that Turkey intends to hold a bilateral meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin during his 2-day trip to Iran. Erdogan will also be attending a trilateral meeting with Putin within the framework of the Astana process, which began in 2017.
The three presidents will be discussing recent developments in Syria, particularly the fight against terrorism, ISIS, and the PKK, in addition to the voluntary return of Syrian refugees to Syria.
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Last month, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Putin's visit to Tehran on the 19th of July, 2022.
The Kremlin’s statement came after Chief of Economic Commission of Iran’s Parliament Mohammadreza Pour-Ebrahimi said, as quoted by Iran's state news agency IRNA, that Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Tehran next week.
Pour-Ebrahimi added that a positive atmosphere has been formed for the mutual cooperation between the two countries, most notably following the recent trip by Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi to Russia.
"Very favorable agreements were signed during that trip, President Raisi marked a new chapter of economic relations between Iran and Russia and assured the Russians that the government of the Islamic Republic is serious about economic cooperation with Russia,” he said.
The top Iranian diplomat highlighted that the US and European embargo on Russia made Moscow increase economic cooperation with Tehran.