Ryabkov: Russia and Iran Are Not Allies; They Only Cooperate in Syria

On Friday, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister stated in an interview that his country cannot be described as an ally of Iran in Syria, emphasizing Russia's full commitment to Israel's security and adding that Tehran is well aware of this fact. These remarks from the senior Russian diplomat come a day after the head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission stated that there is 'serious criticism of Russia' for deactivating its S-300 air defense system during Israeli attacks on Syria. Sergey Ryabkov, Deputy to Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, said in an interview with CNN regarding Russia's alliance with Iran in Syria: 'I do not use such words to describe the situation we have with Iran.' Mr. Ryabkov added that Russia 'cannot ignore the importance of measures that a country like Israel takes to ensure its security.' The second-ranking Russian diplomat emphasized that 'Russia is fully committed to guaranteeing strong security for Israel' and does not agree with Iran's aggressive actions against Israel. Ryabkov also mentioned that Russia was trying to limit Iran's military and political influence in Syria and to push Iranian forces back to 85 kilometers from the Syrian border with Israel, but 'the Trump administration's policy of renewing sanctions against Iran halted this Russian effort.' Iran and Syria emphasize military cooperation based on the 'invitation of the legitimate government' of Damascus for Iran's 'advisory' assistance to stabilize Syria in its eight-year war. However, Israel, motivated by the belief that the stabilization of Iran's military presence and its Shiite allies in Syria 'is like putting a noose around Israel's neck,' has been conducting airstrikes against 'Iranian targets and its allies' in Syria for the past three years. Until a few days ago, Israel only accepted responsibility for these airstrikes in a few instances, but two weeks ago changed this policy and stated that it has 'entered into direct conflict with the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in Syria.' The last Israeli attack on 'Iranian targets' in Syria, for which the Israeli army accepted responsibility, occurred on Sunday night, January 30, and early Monday morning, February 1. An Israeli army spokesperson said on Tuesday that the attack followed a missile fired from the Daraa province in southern Syria towards the Hermon Heights in northern Israel during another Israeli airstrike on Damascus airport, but Israel's missile defense system diverted it in the sky. The recent Israeli attacks against 'targets belonging to the Quds Force' occurred while Russia had repeatedly urged Israel in recent days to refrain from such attacks. The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister also criticized the repetition of Israeli attacks in his Friday interview with CNN and expressed hope that 'with prudence, the region will not be drawn into new military adventures.' However, Israeli officials and military commanders have emphasized in their country's media in recent days that Israel will not repeat the mistake it made regarding Hezbollah, which allowed the organization to become a military power with a rocket arsenal since the early 1980s with Iran's assistance, and will continue its attacks in Syria to strike at Iran's military stabilization for as long as necessary. The Israeli Prime Minister has emphasized that the armies of the two countries have 'full coordination' regarding Israeli operations in Syria since the beginning of his country's attacks on Syria, following meetings with the Russian President during multiple trips to Moscow, as well as other phone conversations with Vladimir Putin. Anatoly Viktorov, the Russian ambassador to Tel Aviv, stated last week in an interview with i24 News that the coordination of the Russian and Israeli armies in the region is 'vital for the security of Russian forces stationed in Syria.' Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, the head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, who recently met with Bashar al-Assad and Imad Khamis, the President and Prime Minister of Syria, acknowledged this coordination between Israel and Russia in an interview with IRNA on Thursday, February 4. Mr. Falahatpisheh said: 'It seems that there is some coordination between the attacks of the Zionist regime (Israel) and the Russian air defense stationed in Syria,' and 'the Russian S-300 systems are deactivated during attacks on Syria.' Russia equipped Syria with the S-300 air defense system this autumn, but the Assad army has apparently not been able to use this system in any of the recent Israeli airstrikes.