Commander of US Central Command General Lloyd Austin said that Russia�s cooperation with Iran appears to be expanding beyond near-term coordination for operations in Syria and is moving towards an emerging strategic partnership.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)�� The United States is worried that Russia�s operational collaboration with�Iran in�Syria is growing into�a long-term strategic security partnership, Commander of�US Central Command General Lloyd Austin said in�congressional testimony on�Tuesday.
"Russia�s cooperation with�Iran appears to�be expanding beyond�near-term coordination for�operations in�Syria and is moving towards�an emerging strategic partnership," Austin stated.


Austin noted that the potential for�a more traditional Russian-Iranian security arrangement is cause for�significant concern given Moscow�s seat on�the UN Security Council and Tehran�s ties with�the Syrian government and Lebanese Hezbollah.
"We already see indications of�high-end weapon sales and economic cooperation between�the two countries," Austin added.


The United States has previously expressed concerns about�Russia�s delivery of�the S-300 air defense system to�Iran. Moscow annulled the S-300 delivery ban in�April, 2015, after�Iran and six world powers, including Russia, reached a framework nuclear deal to�lift the anti-Tehran sanctions in�exchange for�guarantees of�the peaceful nature of�its nuclear activities.

By Sputnik