President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that only people of Syria can decide about Syria and its future political system.

President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that only people of Syria can decide about Syria and its future political system.

President Rouhani told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over phone that coordination, collective thinking and collaboration between Iran and Russia is necessary to stabilize pillars of peace and tranquility in Syria.

He underlined Iran's principled stances regarding the need for continuation of ceasefire in Syria.

"Concurrent with ceasefire political talks should be expedited and it should be considered that ceasefire and political talks should not hamper the process of ceaseless campaign against terrorists and terrorist groups in Syria."

He expressed pleasure with recent military developments and liberation of Palmyra historical city, which signifies the might and strength of the Syrian army and people. "Control of borders and preventing transfer of arms and terrorist elements into Syria and preventing joining of terrorists to the group of negotiators, under the guise of dissidents, is an undeniable necessity."

He then said the Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes further expansion of relations with the Russian Federation.

Putin for his part outlined latest consultations between Moscow and Washington on Syria and said, "All efforts are concentrated on peaceful settlement of Syrian crisis and Moscow is in full coordination with Iran in this regard."

He also underlined further control of Syrian borders to prevent entry of arms and terrorist elements and said terrorists should not be allowed to join the group of dissidents at the negotiation table.

He emphasized expansion of bilateral ties and said Russia wants further expansion of bilateral ties.