According to an Iran Press report, Lavrov reacted to the remark by Bolton by saying: "All foreign military forces who have not been invited by the Syrian government , are there illegally, and should leave Syria immediately".
Lavrov said: "It is illegal under international law for foreign military forces to enter a country without permission from the government of that country. Since US military forces have not been invited by the government in Damascus, their presence in Syria is illegal."
Lavrov was quoted by TASS news agency as saying: "All foreign forces staying there without an invitation from the Syrian government must be eventually withdrawn".
National Security Adviser John Bolton
Bolton, who will meet with Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev in Geneva on August 23, said he was ready to discuss with Moscow aspects of the Syrian settlement but on condition the Iranian forces would be sent back to Iran.
Meanwhile, the deputy Russian foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov has emphasised that the Trump administration is uncomfortable and unhappy with "the constructive role played by Iran, Turkey and Russia in Syria". According to Ryabkov , US officials don't want to see other countries helping the government in Damascus, or playing a constructive and beneficial role in Syria. .
It should be noted that senior Syrian officials have repeatedly said the presence of Iranian advisers in Syria is at the request of the government in Damascus and perfectly legal.
Meanwhile, an international adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, said the Russian Federation has not expressed opposition to the Islamic Republic’s presence in war-stricken Syria.
Speaking to Russia’s RT television network, Velayati rejected claims that Russia has tried to end Iran’s presence in Syria and said he has not heard anything from Russian officials so far about Moscow’s opposition to the Iranian advisory presence in the Arab country or other regional countries.
Russia's ambassador to Tehran, Dzhagaryan, also noted that the Russians are concerned over possible confrontation between Iran and the Zionist regime of Israel.
Earlier in the day, Bolton threatened to strike government forces in Syria, according to Almasdarnews.
Bolton’s threats vis-a-vis the Syrian government come shortly after he completed his visit to Tel Aviv, Zionist regime. He also said that US is strongly against Iran and Hizbollah cooperation .
On July 27,2018 Russian Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Artyom Kozhin said "Iran plays a constructive role in Syria".
Further more ,Syrian President Bashar Assad said in June that Iran’s presence in Syria and its relations with Damascus are not negotiable.
Assad said Syria had invited Iran and Russia to participate, but that he regarded American, French, Turkish and Israeli forces acting on Syrian territory as occupying powers. He also stressed the fact that his country needs the assistance of Iranian advisers and Hizbollah forces in Syria.
Related news: Bashar al-Assad: Syria needs assistance of Iran and Hizbollah
Recently, Russian Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Artyom Kozhin said that Iran roles in Syria as is constructive.
"Iran is a player with high sense of responsibility in Syria and its' role is constructive, Russian Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Artyom Kozhin told reporters in a weekly press briefing.
"The tenth meeting of the deputy foreign ministers of the countries acting as guarantors of the Astana process (Russia, Iran and Turkey) on the settlement in Syria will be held in Sochi on July 30-31", Russian Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman noted.
Related news: Russian official: Iran roles in Syria constructive
Meanwhile, Russia's UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, has described Iran as a regional powerhouse, saying Iran’s presence in Syria is perfectly legitimate and undeniable.
The Russian ambassador to UN emphasized that US presence in Syria is illegitimate, since the US has not been invited by the Syrian government.
Noting that some 15,000 Daesh and Al-Nusra Front terrorists are still present in south of Syria, he said concerns of Syria's neighbours are understandable and putting an end to Daesh's terror attacks, requires collective cooperation.
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Bashar al-Assad: Syria needs assistance of Iran and Hizbollah
Lavrov accuses US of attempting to impede Astana process for Syria
Bashar al-Assad: Syria needs assistance of Iran and Hizbollah
