Russia's Use of Iranian Air Base Does Not Violate UNSC Resolutions - Senator

Russia's use of the Hamadan airfield in western Iran for launching strikes against terrorist targets in Syria is "obviously" not violating the UN Security Council’s resolutions concerning Iran, Chairman of the Russian Federation Council’s Committee on Foreign Affairs Konstantin Kosachev said Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner said in a press briefing on Tuesday that Russia’s use of the Hamadan airbase was "unfortunate," adding that it could be in violation of the UNSC Resolution 22311, which outlaws supplies of military equipment to Iran without UN approval.

"Indeed, in Paragraph 5 of Annex B of the resolution, it is stated that if the supply of military equipment, including combat aircraft, is carried out to, and I quote, 'Iran, or for the use in or benefit of Iran,’ that would require a prior approval of the Security Council. But let me ask, what does it have to do with Russian long-range bombers using the base on the Iranian territory to carry out airstrikes against Daesh and al-Nusra [outlawed in Russia] in the Syrian provinces of Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor and Idlib?" Kosachev said on Facebook.

According to Kosachev, Russia, unlike the United States, never violates its commitments to the United Nations.

On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed its Tu-22M3 long-range bombers and Su-34 strike aircraft had taken off from the Hamadan airfield in Iran to carry out airstrikes against terrorists in Syria.

Following the statement, US Secretary of State John Kerry raised concerns with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over Moscow’s use of the airbase.