In Iran for gas meet, Putin praises ties with Tehran

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday during the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Summit in Tehran, the Kremlin said.

In Tehran, both Putin and Iran's supreme leader warned against any effort to impose a political settlement on Syria. And on Monday, positive reports appeared to suffer a blow in the midst of an anticipated visit to Tehran by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Russian decree outlines three areas where the country can resume its support for Iran's civilian nuclear industry: modifying two cascades at the Fordow uranium enrichment plant, supporting Iran's export of surplus enriched uranium - above the 300 kilogram limit - in exchange for Russian raw uranium supplies, and upgrading the Arak heavy water reactor. But during a separate meeting with Khamenei, Syria was the dominant topic.

Photos of the meeting with Khamenei released by the Kremlin showed the two leaders sitting jovially, with an animated Putin smiling broadly.

Speaking at the meeting, His Eminence welcomed an increase in bilateral, regional and global cooperation with Russian Federation and praised the presence of Moscow in regional - particularly Syrian - events, further adding: "America's long-term plot for the region is to the disadvantage of all nations and countries - particularly Iran and Russian Federation - and therefore, this plot should be foiled in an intelligent way and with closer interactions".

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani and his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari meet in Tehran

The comments were a direct rebuff of repeated demands from the United States, France, Britain and Saudi Arabia that President Bashar al-Assad should step down and play no future role in war-torn Syria. Khamenei believes that the US' goal in Syria is to reassert its dominance in the Middle East.

The plan says nothing about Assad's fate, and does not say which of Syria's many opposition factions would take part in the negotiations. Iran has repeatedly rejected this.

Earlier this month, Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said that the country is expected to receive the deliveries by March 2016.

Rouhani said Iran and Bolivia are jointly fighting terrorism and unilateralism, and added that terrorist groups should not be allowed to easily carry out inhumane actions.

Tehran and Moscow have stepped up ties following a landmark nuclear deal in July between Iran and six world powers including Russian Federation and the United States.

Putin called Iran a "certain and reliable ally in the region and the world".

"This [issue] should be decided only by the Syrian people", Putin said. Putin delivered a gift to Khamenei as the leaders discussed recent events in ISIS-occupied Syria. Russia's willingness to provide state credit of $ 5 billion and $ 2 billion from Vnesheconombank is a very serious move, because now Iran's economy is in a hard position.