Update: Iran urges Russia for further cooperation on Syria

Iran and Russia must strengthen strategic cooperation on regional and international issues, especially the ongoing crisis in Syria, a senior Iranian official was quoted Tuesday by Press TV as saying.

"Strong and strategic relations between the two countries are very important in the establishment of regional peace and stability and the settlement of issues," Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, said on Monday in a meeting with Alexander Lavrentiev, the visiting Russian special envoy on Syria.

Iran and Russia are the main allies of the Syrian government and cooperation between the two countries has played an important role in regional developments and the recent achievements by the Syrian government and people, said Velayati.

The future of Syria should be decided by the Syrian people through political talks, he said.

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani warned against foreign plots to revitalize terrorist groups under new names in a meeting with Lavrentiev, the Tasnim news agency reported on Tuesday.

Shamkhani denounced what he called the West's "media and political show" aimed at covering up its double-standard policies on the fight against terrorism in Syria.

He warned against any foreign military intervention in Syria without the Syrian government's consent.

He also called for closer interaction among Iran, Russia and Syria in combating terrorism in the Arab state.

For his part, Lavrentiev described Tehran-Moscow cooperation against terrorism as "sustainable, strategic and inclusive." Endi