Turkey Prolonging Crisis in Syria

Tehran – A senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official said Turkey’s interference has prolonged the crisis in Syria, IRNA reported.

In reaction to recent remarks by the Turkish President RecepTayipErdogan, he said Ankara’s interference in Syrian internal affairs has unfortunately resulted in prolonging of the war and extensive human losses there.

The crisis in Syria would have settled long before if Turkey had stopped following ambitious goals, said the official.

This is the reality with its bare face now, the official added.

Iran threatens to stop fuel supply to Turkish trucks

On the other hand, a senior official at the Road Maintenance Organization said Iran has forwarded its proposals to Turkish officials on removing transit disputes between the two countries and if Ankara rejects those proposals Iran will stop fuel supply to Turkish trucks within the Iranian territory.

Mohammad JavadAtrchian further remarked that after Turkey started to receive heavy tariffs from Iranian trucks entering into that country, trucks have been jammed behind borders since last week while those paying the money can easily pass the borders between the two countries.

Stressing that it was not clear why Turkey has imposed duties for entry of Iranian trucks after bilateral agreements, Atrchian said Ankara will receive 60 euro for each 100 km that Iranian trucks take in that country and will not allow them to receive fuel inside Turkey. However, the official added, Iran by taking the same duties will allow Turkish trucks to receive fuel in the country.

He stressed that a solution to such disputes requires talks between officials of the two countries, adding that Iran’s proposals have been conveyed to the Turkish deputy road minister in his recent meeting with Iran’s minister of road and urban development.

He said the Turks can look for routes replacing Iran but this will cost them too heavy than passing through Iran and noted that Iran is examining substitute routes such as Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan and Russia to carry goods to Turkey.

He said if the Turkish side refuses to hold talks to find a solution, the same rules will be adopted at all Iranian border areas to prevent selling fuel to Turkish trucks and seal gasoline tanks of the Turkish trucks.

R.S