The Iranian speaker of parliament (Majlis) says Russia’s military intervention in Syria against terrorist groups was well timed and considered.

“We see Russia’s presence in the region, which has been upon a request by the Syrian government, as a timely and well-thought-out move,” Larijani said speaking at the 12th annual meeting Valdai International Discussion Club in the Russian resort town of Sochi on Thursday.

He said that Russia’s air campaign in Syria sent a “serious warning” to the terrorists in the Arab country, adding that the bombings have already proven to be effective.

Larijani told the high-profile meeting, which was also attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, that Russia’s move in Syria would encourage other anti-terror governments to take action.

The Iranian speaker slammed Washington and its allies for their propaganda in promoting their airstrikes against the Daesh Takfiri group in Syria, saying the US-led "paper coalition" has failed to achieve any significant results over the past year and has even emboldened the terrorists.

Larijani said weapons supplied by the US and its allies to so-called moderate militants in Syria have ended up in the hands of terrorist groups like the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front.

Russia began its military campaign against terrorists in Syria on September 30 upon a request from the Damascus government, shortly after the upper house of the Russian parliament gave President Putin the mandate to use military force in Syria.

Defense officials in Moscow say the operation has been a success as hundreds of militants have been forced to retreat from their positions while major arms depots, training camps and command posts belonging to the terrorists have been destroyed in the attacks. 

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The crisis has claimed the lives of more than 250,000 people so far and displaced millions.