Russia Stops Using Iran's Hamadan Airbase

Russia has stopped using Iranian air base for its strikes against Syria, following the recent deployment of bombers, which was criticized by US and Iranian lawmakers.

Last week long-range Russian Tupolev-22M3 bombers and Sukhoi-34 fighter bombers used Nojeh air base, near the Hamadan city, in north-west Iran to launch air strikes against armed groups in Syria.

Iranian law makers had called the move as violation of the constitution that prohibits the establishment of any foreign military base within the country, even for the sake of peaceful intentions, whereas the US had called the move as unsurprising and unfortunate. It also stated that it would even consider using its veto power in the United Nations' Security Council to block the possible sales of the fighter jets to Iran.

However, this week Iran's Foreign Ministry spokes person Bahram Qasemi said that the use of Iranian airbase by Russia is over for the time being. Moreover, Russia had been here, temporarily and now it is over, other than that they have not stationed here.

“Iran will not transfer its control of Hamadan air base to Russia” Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan was quoted as saying by Tasnim News Agency on Monday.

For the first time, Iranian base is being used by a foreign power after world war two. Both the countries are providing military support to President Bashar al Assad in his fight against rebels as well as IS militants in syria’s five-year-old conflict.

There is no written agreement between both the nations and the operational cooperation was just temporary and limited to refueling, Dehghan replied sharply.