Sunday 23 April 2017 - 10:34
Story Code : 258247
Netanyahu calls Putins arguments on Iran's naval base in Syria not convincing
MOSCOW (Sputnik) In March, Netanyahu and Putin had an official meeting in Moscow, where, amongnumerous other issues, the leaders have discussed the intentions ofTehran toestablish a naval base inthe Syrian city ofLatakia.
"I said this toPresident Putin that it is not a good idea I said it is not inthe interest ofanyone, including Russia, tohave an Iranian naval base inthe Mediterranean [Sea] I did not hear a forceful argument," Netanyahu said.
However, the disagreement withMoscow overthe issue ofIrans alleged naval plans did not influence the bilateral relations ingeneral, the Israeli Prime Minister added.
"I have tosay that we have a good relationship withRussia and we have a good relationship withPresident Putin, buthere is one point where we disagree," Netanyahu noted.
Iran has been increasing its naval presence inthe recent years tosecure naval routes and protect merchant vessels and oil tankers frompirates. In addition, the country is providing support forYemen and Syria, both engulfed incivil war.
Iranian Armed Forces Chief ofStaff Mohammad Hossein Baqeri said inNovember 2016 that Tehran may need naval bases onthe coasts ofYemen and Syria "one day" asthe Central Asian countries demand tohave access tointernational waters throughIran.
In March, media reported that Tehran was close toreaching an agreement withSyrian President Bashar Assad onestablishing its naval base inLatakia, however, the Iranian government later refuted the allegations.
The relations betweenIsrael and Iran have been strained sincethe Iranian Revolution inthe late 1970s. The ties are overshadowed bya number ofissues, including Tehran's nuclear and missile programs accompanied bycontroversial anti-Israeli statements ofhigh-ranking Iranian officials, such asformer Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
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