Report: Russia And Iran Coordinating Their Syrian Military Plans And Strategies

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) shows the way to his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif as they enter a hall during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, August 17, 2015. REUTERS/MAXIM ZMEYEV

WSJ: Russia, Iran Seen Coordinating on Defense of Assad Regime in Syria

U.S., regional officials say military buildup in coastal base aimed at safeguarding regime’s stronghold.

Russia and Iran have stepped up coordination inside Syria as they move to safeguard President Bashar al-Assad’s control over his coastal stronghold, according to officials in the U.S. and Middle East, creating a new complication for Washington’s diplomatic goals.

Senior Russian and Iranian diplomats, generals and strategists have held a string of high-level talks in Moscow in recent months to discuss Mr. Assad’s defense and the Kremlin’s military buildup in Syria, according to these officials.

This included a secret visit in late July by the commander of Iran’s elite overseas military unit, the Qods Force. Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani directs Tehran’s military and intelligence support for the Assad regime and is one of the most powerful leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC.

WNU Editor: A lot of geopolitics is now on display in the Middle East .... and Russia is positioning itself to be in the middle. But there are risks .... Are Iran and Russia Risking Their Own Vietnam in Syria? (Juan Cole, The Nation).

Update: A warning shot from the rebels to Russia? .... Russia urges 'action' after shell hits Damascus embassy compound (AFP).

Russian President Putin To Visit Iran To Discuss Nuclear Issues

Putin To Visit Iran For First Time In Six Years -- Times of Israel

Russian president meets with his Iranian counterpart, asserts Tehran’s right to atomic energy program

Vladimir Putin has accepted an Iranian invitation to visit the country and meet with newly elected President Hasan Rouhani, a spokesman for the Russian president confirmed. The visit to Tehran would be Putin’s first since 2007.

“Putin has been invited to Iran, and he will certainly take advantage of this kind invitation,” the Interfax news agency quoted spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Friday. “The dates of the visit will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.”

The announcement came on the heels of a report that Russia had agreed to sell to Iran the advanced S-300 air defense system and construct a new nuclear reactor at the Bushehr site.

Read more ....

More News On Russian President Putin Agreeing To Visit Iran To Discuss Nuclear Issues

Report: Putin to travel to Iran for nuclear strategy talks -- Daily Caller
Putin Reportedly Agrees to Visit Iran to Assist Islamic Regime with Nuclear Strategy -- The Blaze
Russian President Vladimir Putin Goes to Iran to Secure Its Nuclear Program -- Guardian Express
Putin accepts Iran's invitation to help solve crisis over its nuclear program -- allVoices
Iran has right to atomic energy, enrichment: Putin -- Tehran Times
Putin Holds First Talks With New Iranian President -- RIA Novosti

Belarus 'Selling Iran Iskander-M Missiles'

Image: An undated file picture shows Russian missile complex "Iskander" on display.

From Press TV:

Amid speedy relationship developments between Belarus and Iran, a report says the former Soviet state is selling Tehran the Russian-made Iskander-M tactical missile systems.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday said that he would like to implement top-level agreements with the government of Tehran.

"We will sacredly fulfill our agreements with Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and expect more activity in projects earmarked for joint implementation," President Lukashenko said in a message handed to the visiting Iranian Judicial chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi-Shahroudi.

Read more ....

My Comment: This is a "nice way" for the Russians to say that they are not selling weapons to Iran .... even though their allies are.

Iran Says S-300 Missile Deal With Russia On Track

S-300

From Defense Talk:

MOSCOW: There are no obstacles to the delivery of Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Tehran, Iran's deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday.

"There are no problems with this [S-300] contract," Mehdi Safari said at the end of his visit to Moscow.

He offered no specifics about the contract's implementation, but dismissed concerns voiced by a number of countries over possible S-300 deliveries to Iran.

Read more ....

My Comment: I guess news that this deal was dead were premature.

US Warns Russia Against Selling Missiles To Iran

From Breitbart/AP:

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. officials say they want answers from Russia on whether it is selling advanced surface-to-air missiles to Iran. The U.S. insists such a move could threaten American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A senior military intelligence official said Monday the U.S. believes the sale of Russian long-range S-300 missiles is taking place. However, the official said it appears that no equipment has yet been delivered to Iran. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Read more ....

More News On S-300s Going To Iran

Russia denies supplying S-300 missile systems to Iran -- RIA Novosti
Russia Denies Delivering Sophisticated S-300 Missiles System To Iran -- RTT News
Russia denies selling missile system to Iran -- International Herald Tribune
Iran Says Russia Delivering S-300 Air Defense Systems -- Moscow Times
Tehran-Moscow cooperation no concern for others -- Tehran Times
Russia-Iran S-300 deal shrouded in mystery -- Press TV