No Limit on Iran’s Purchase of Russian Copters: MP

There is no restriction on buying Russian-made military choppers, Chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi told reporters on Wednesday.

The quality of Russian helicopters is good and Iran has been purchasing choppers from Russia for years, he added, saying the Russian aircraft are used by the Iranian Armed Forces and the Police.

On Tuesday, CEO of Russia’s Helicopters Company said business talks are in progress with Iran on the sale of new Ansat and Kamov KA-226T ambulance helicopters.

Elsewhere in his comments, Boroujerdi pointed to Russia’s recent use of an Iranian airbase for dispatching bomber jets to Syria, describing it as part of concerted action against terrorism formulated by the joint operations rooms of Iran, Russia, Syria and Iraq, which he said were set up in both Damascus and Baghdad a year ago.

The collective effort has helped the region stand against terrorists, he said.

Reports began circulating last week that Russia’s Tupolev-22M3 bombers and military transport planes have used Iran’s Nojeh airbase for airstrikes against terrorist groups in Syria. The Iranian deployment allows the Russian air force to cut flight times by 60 percent.

Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups, including Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL), currently controlling parts of it.

Meanwhile, Russia’s aerial support for the Syrian forces since September 2015 has given fresh impetus to the fight against the foreign-backed terrorists.

Iran has also remained a close ally of Syria and supports its legitimate government in the face of militancy.