YEREVAN. – After strengthening its military and political positions in South Caucasus, Russia has passed to reinforcing its positions also in the Near and Middle Eastern countries, especially in Iran and Syria, Iranian Studies specialist Karen Mkrtchyan stated at a press conference on Saturday.

The Armenian specialist noted that the Russian-Iranian military cooperation is making a transition toward a qualitatively new phase.

“While these relations were characterized as technico-military cooperation to this day, now we are actually dealing with a Russian-Iranian cooperation with an air format,” said Mkrtchyan. “The Russian side was able to conduct flights from the Hamedan military airport of Iran, and suppress the terrorist factions in Aleppo, Idlib, and Deir ez-Zor [in Syria].”

He added that this is an exclusive authorization in terms of ensuring the military presence of any country.

“This is an actual political and diplomatic success of Russia,” noted Karen Mkrtchyan. “[But] this has an important significance for the Iranian side, too. Tehran is getting great leverages of influence in the region, especially from the military viewpoint.”