Iran’s foreign minister has emphasized the importance of the roles played on the regional arena by the Islamic Republic, Russia, and Turkey, saying the three countries should cooperate and engage in dialog with one another.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is in Turkey for an official visit, reiterated Tehran’s support for democracy in the western neighboring state.
For weeks, senior Turkish officials have issued ominous threats and stern warnings to the United States if it fails to extradite Fethullah Gulen, the Pennsylvania-based preacher whom Ankara accuses of masterminding last month’s attempted coup.
The Turkish foreign minister, for his part, thanked the Iranian government and nation for supporting the legitimate Turkish government after the failed coup and said Iran had been the first country to condemn the putsch.
Zarif made the remarks during a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara.
Upon arriving in Ankara, Zarif said, “Iran, Russia and Turkey are important players of the region”.
The top Turkish diplomat announced that a US delegation will visit Ankara on August 23-24 for talks about the extradition of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is accused by the Turkish government of being behind the July 15 coup attempt.
However, the coup attempt was suppressed as people turned out on the streets to support the incumbent government.
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“We will enhance cooperation with Iran for peace in Syria”, he said. After 24 November 2015, when Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet in Syrian airspace, we entered a deplorable phase for both the Turkish and the Russian public. The two countries are at odds over Syria and the urgency of removing Syrian President Bashar Assad; over support for Syrian Kurds who, in contrast to the Turks, have proved to be reliable USA partners in the fight against Islamic State; over the territorial sovereignty of Iraq; and over continuing sanctions on Iran.
