Foreign minister also defends his countrys ballistic-missile tests as permitted under the nuclear deal
CANBERRA, AustraliaRussias decision to begin withdrawing troops from Syria is a positive sign, Irans Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said, while warning it is too early to judge whether the start of peace talks means the conflict has turned a corner.
The fact that Russia announced they are withdrawing part of its forces indicates that they dont see an imminent need for resort to force in maintaining the cease-fire, said Mr. Zarif, in Australia on a trade mission. That in and of itself could be a positive sign. We have to wait and see.
Saying their principal mission had been accomplished, Russian President Vladimir Putin unexpectedly ordered his countrys armed forces to start withdrawing as peace talks got under way Monday.