Valiati's Meeting with Putin's Representative on Syrian Affairs

Ali Akbar Velayati, the international affairs advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, who is on an official visit to Moscow, has had a "significant and lengthy" meeting with Vladimir Putin's special representative for Syria, as reported by the Iranian embassy in Moscow. According to IRNA, Velayati met with Alexander Lavrentiev on the evening of February 1st, discussing the most important issues affecting Syria, the region, and the cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia. This meeting comes as Geneva hosts a new round of talks aimed at ending the Syrian crisis, which Western officials have described as the "best and possibly only chance" to end the civil war. Both Russia and Iran are supporters of Bashar al-Assad, and forces from both countries are present in Syria. Velayati and Lavrentiev discussed cooperation within the framework of the quadrilateral coalition of Iran, Russia, Iraq, and Syria against ISIS terrorists. Both sides emphasized that the fate of Syria should be determined "without foreign interference and the participation of terrorist groups." Tehran accuses some regional countries and global powers of interfering in Syria and supporting Sunni extremist groups. On the other hand, both Iran and Russia face accusations of practically supporting Bashar al-Assad, with opponents of the Syrian president claiming that his refusal to step down has exacerbated the crisis and civil war in the country. Iran is accused of organizing Shiite militia groups in the Syrian civil war, while Moscow has been accused of attacking moderate groups and Syrian civilians.