Iran insists it will stay in Syria as long as Damascus wants it. This is a response to a statement made by Russian President Vladimir Putin with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
When meeting Assad last week, Putin said, because of the success of Syria's anti-terror struggle, foreign troops must leave the country as soon as possible, including Iranian and Hezbollah troops.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Kasemi said Tehran would only withdraw its troops in Syria if an anti-terror operation had been completed and if the Syrian government asked for it.
"No one can force Iran to do this as long as there is terrorism and the Syrian government wants it, Iran will remain present in Syria ... Those who enter the country without the permission of the Syrian authorities should leave," said Kasemi,
Iran itself has never actually admitted that they have sent troops to Syria. Tehran has so far only admitted sending military advisers to train Syrian troops against ISIS and other terrorist groups.