TEHRAN – Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Thursday that his country treats Iran’s steps to furnish its own security and activities with great respect, “specifically in Syria at the invitation of this country’s legitimate government.”

According to TASS, Ryabkov said the issue of Iran’s presence in Syria was discussed in the broader context of the Middle East and Syria. “We’ve got many inconsistencies with the Americans in this area,” he added.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called on Washington to fulfill its international legal obligations and withdraw its forces from Syria, reaffirming that their presence is illegal.

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