In March, the President said he wanted US forces to leave the country “very soon”.
He had instead wanted to “let the other people take care of it.”
But, just one day before Trump met the Russian leader, John Bolton, National Security Adviser told ABC US troops would remain in Syria “as long as the Iranian menace continues throughout the Middle East”.
The remarks were made following intense lobbying from other Middle Eastern nations.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Israel all resent Iranian presence in the region and specifically Syria, as they regard it as a threat.
Tensions between Iran and the US are the highest they have been in years.
President Rouhani took a swipe at Trump earlier this week telling him that conflict with Iran would be the “mother of all wars”.
Trump tweeted in response warning of “consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before”.
The Iranian military have also weighed in, with military commander Qassem Suleimani telling state TV that Iran was ready to take on the US.
In a speech, the commander said: “Mr Trump the gambler: know that where you are not thinking of, we are near you.
“Places you cannot imagine, we are next to you.
“The Red Sea is no longer secure.”
Suleimani is considered the most likely person to take control should the Iranian regime ever collapse.
He is the commander of the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force.
He also leads Iran’s military operations in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.