Top Russian official in Iran to discuss ally Syria: report

TEHRAN - Agence France-Presse

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov. REUTERS photo

Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov arrived in Tehran on Monday to discuss the crisis in mutual ally Syria with Iranian officials, Fars news agency reported.
 
"Mikhail Bogdanov, deputy foreign minister for Middle East and President Vladimir Putin's special representative arrived in Tehran at the invitation of his counterpart Hossein Amir Abdolahian to discuss regional issues and Syria," Fars said.
 
He will also meet the Islamic republic's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, the report added.
 
Bogdanov's visit to Tehran comes after Syria peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi called for a "unilateral" ceasefire by the regime and the rebels for the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, or Feast of Sacrifice, which starts on Friday.
 
Tehran has welcomed the initiative.
 
Iran and Russia support the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad and accuse Western and Arab countries of arming the rebels fighting his forces.
 
They advocate a political solution and dialogue between the government and opposition groups to end the Syrian crisis.
 
Moscow has also repeatedly refused to back international calls for Assad to step down and together with China jointly vetoed three rounds of UN Security Council sanctions against the Syrian leader.