Iran–Russia relations

According to him, Russia last month deterred a larger-scale Western attack on Syria. The president believes that Damascus is close to winning the seven-year war, despite continued "US interference."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on April 24 that the United States has no intention to leave Syria despite Washington saying it has such plans, the RIA state news agency said.

Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli told this to 24TV on Wednesday, TASS is reporting.

"If an attack occurs against the forces (in Syria) backed by Russia or there is an attack by the US-supported forces, Russia won't be able to stay away, otherwise it will lose its influence. So, serious clashes may start," he said.

United Nations war crimes investigators called on Tuesday on Russia and the U.S.-led coalition in Syria to look into their air strikes in the country last year found to have killed large numbers of civilians, in violation of international law, Reuters reported. 

Americans in Syria are carrying out deadly provocations against Russian soldiers and officers, causing serious concern in Moscow. Their tactics of "half-measures" can not lead to victory over terrorists.

Russian soldiers have announced that the Syrian army has liberated about 85% of the territory of the war-torn country from extremists, CNN reported.

Russia has said it is willing to deploy monitors to prevent any violations of a ceasefire in southwestern Syria by Syrian government forces, a senior U.S. official has said.

A US-led coalition spokesperson has confirmed that coalition strikes in southern Syria struck Syrian government armed forces, BuzzFeed News reported on Thursday. Later, a US defense official confirmed the information to Sputnik.

Western countries that met in Italy for a Group of Seven meeting said April 11 that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had no place in the country's future, while Russia hit back by claiming that U.S. was planning fake chemical attacks in Syria. 

Russia says it's suspending a deal with the U.S. to prevent mid-air collisions over Syria in response to the U.S. strike on a Syrian air base.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in statement that Moscow is suspending a memorandum with the U.S. to prevent incidents and ensure flight safety.