Rick Santorum Disagrees With US, Russia Policies on Iran

US Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum told Sputnik in Iowa ahead of the causes vote that he opposes the United States’ and Russian policies toward Iran.

DES MOINES (Sputnik) — In July, Iran and the international negotiators signed a peace deal ensuring the safe nature of Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions imposed on it. On January 16, the United States and the European Union announced the lifting of sanctions against Iran.

“[Russia is] aligning again with Iran, which is a principal sponsor of terrorists,” Santorum stated. “And why you would align with country that does so is a little bit of curious to me. But then again, we have our President [Barack Obama] who has done aligning with Iran, that I don’t agree with either.”

The US presidential candidate continued that he also does not support Russia’s activities in Syria.

“To align themselves with that type of regime is not a positive thing for the Middle East, it's not a positive thing for stability in the region,” Santorum added.

The United States and Russia are conducting two simultaneous aerial campaigns against the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria. Washington heads an international coalition of 65 states that carries out airstrikes without  the approval of UN or the Syrian government. On September 30, 2015, Moscow started to launch its airstrikes at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad.