WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed its Tu-22M3 long-range bombers and Su-34 strike aircraft took off from the Hamadan airfield in Iran to stage airstrikes against terrorists in Syria.
“It does not preclude the fact that we will reach some kind of cooperative arrangement with Russia. We continue to pursue that,” Toner told reporters.
The United States also continues to speak with Russia via working groups about ways to put in place a credible, nationwide ceasefire in Syria and ensuring full access to humanitarian aid, Toner noted.
Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State John Kerry raised US concerns with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov over Moscow’s use of the airbase in Iran.
Senator Viktor Ozerov, a member of Russia’s Council Defense and Security Committee, told RIA Novosti on Tuesday that using the base in Iran would give Russia more options for striking militants in Syria while minimizing risks posed to Russian Aerospace Forces.
