Moscow says use of airbase does not violate a UN resolution that prohibits supplying fighter jets to Tehran.

Russia has said its use of an Iranian airbase to carry out bombing missions in Syria does not violate a UN resolution that forbids supplying fighter jets to Tehran.

"There has been no supply, sale or transfer of combat jets to Iran," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday in comments reported by the Russian state news agency TASS.

"These jets are being used by Russian Air forces with Iranian consent within an anti-terrorist operation in Syria on the request of the legal Syrian government."

Lavrov was responding to comments by US State Department spokesman Mark Toner, who said on Tuesday that Russia might be violating UN Security Council Resolution 2231 by using Iranian territory to launch air raids in Syria.

The resolution bans the supply, sale or transfer of combat aircraft to Iran unless approved in advance by the UN Security Council.

Toner also described Russia's move as "unfortunate but not surprising or unexpected", saying the air strikes that Russia says target the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant in Syria actually "predominately target moderate Syrian opposition forces".

(ALJAZEERA)