Iran against Turkish military action in Syria: FM
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Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says from Damascus that Iran would exert great efforts to ensure that a military conflict does not take place in northern Syria.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian with his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Mekdad, during a joint press conference in Damascus, Syria, July 2, 2022 (SANA)
Relations between Tehran and Damascus are strategic, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Saturday during a joint press conference with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad in the Syrian capital.
"I had a two-hour-long meeting with President Bashar Al-Assad that saw us discussing bilateral relations and regional developments," Amir-Abollahian said. "We touched on issues of mutual interest between the two countries, especially long-term economic cooperation."
The top Iranian diplomat also praised Syria's role in curtailing the Israeli occupation, saying: "Syria stands on the frontline against the Zionist occupation [...] [Iran] fully supports resistance as a guarantor of lasting peace in the region."
The Iranian foreign minister stressed that any foreign intervention in the region was rejected as it would only further complicate the situation. "Any Turkish military action in northern Syria would undermine regional stability in the region."
He revealed that he held talks with Turkish officials and told them that the only solution was for security officials from Damascus and Ankara to hold talks, underlining that Tehran would "exert great efforts to ensure that no military conflict takes place in northern Syria."
"We are ready to propose any political solution, and we oppose any military action in Syria," he clarified. "[Tehran] is in favor of a diplomatic solution to the issues between Syria and Turkey."
Following his meeting with President Bashar Al-Assad, Amir-Abdollahian took the opportunity to condemn attempts by "Israel" to aggress against Syria and violate its territorial integrity, adding that the Israeli occupation is attempting to destabilize Syria, increasing problems for Syrian refugees returning to their homes.
Furthermore, as he just came from Turkey, he highlighted Iran's understanding of Ankara's security issues and said Tehran strongly opposes "military attempts" in Syria made under any justification, adding that Iran is working to resolve existing misunderstandings between the two neighboring countries through diplomacy and dialogue.
Iran had previously voiced its refusal of Turkey's military incursion into Syria and said it considered such military action to be "a violation of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty" of Syria.
Iranian role is welcome: Mekdad
"There are Iranian efforts to solve the issues with Turkey without any war drums being beaten," Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said, welcoming Iran's role in this regard.
"There were deep discussions regarding bilateral relations and enhancing bilats with neighboring countries during the meeting [with Amir-Abdollahian]," Mekdad said following his bilat with his Iranian counterpart. "We discussed Geneva and Astana, and Syria agrees with Iran on embarking on these two paths."
The Syrian Foreign Minister condemned the West's attempts to expand the circle of terror and war in certain regions. "We have borders, and we are capable of intercepting your attacks," Mekdad told the Israeli occupation."
He further stressed that Damascus stood by the Palestinians in the face of the Israeli occupation's aggression and violations.
