Zarif Criticizes Way of Fighting Against Terrorism in Region

Tehran – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, reviewed the latest developments in the region and criticized way of fighting against terrorism in the region.

According to the Foreign Ministry Media Department on Thursday, Zarif, by referring to proposed issues in Turkish parliament to authorize the government to perform military operations in Iraq and Syria, criticized the way of confronting terrorism in the region and expressed concern over adopting any action that can make current situation more complicated.

He stressed that regional countries should act in a responsible way and should avoid making the conditions worse.

Mevlut Cavusoglu, for his part, expounded on process of proposed issues concerning Turkey’s military participation and said that his country is committed to maintain territorial integrity and independence of regional countries.

The government of Ankara has requested the parliament to authorize it to do extraterritorial military operations. The government has said these operations are necessary because of terrorist threats against national security, possible terrorist attacks against the country, preventing refugees from entering Turkey, and protecting national interests.

A number of Turkey’s opposition political parties have declared their opposition to dispatching military forces abroad.

Most effective way to confront Daesh is regional cooperation

Meanwhile in Ankara, Iran’s Ambassador to Turkey Alireza Bigdeli said the most practical way to confront the terrorist group of Daesh (ISIS) is cooperation between Iran, Turkey and a number of other regional countries.

He made the remarks in a meeting with media persons in the venue of Iran’s embassy in Ankara.

The Iranian ambassador stressed that confrontation with such a threat is not the work of one country and regional countries should cooperate in this concern.

Concerning possible extraterritorial operations of Turkey in Syria, which was asked by a reporter, Bigdeli said since Syria is an independent state, every move in this concern should be coordinated by Syrian government and with cooperation of regional countries.

He said confrontation with the resistance in the Middle East region is one of the main reasons for unrest, so it seems that the main solution would be paying serious attention to its root, the Zionist regime, which has been a source of threat since its emergence in the region.

The ambassador said Iran and Turkey have the same viewpoints on terrorism and developments in the region will create closer relations between the two countries.

He added that Iran and Turkey have been damaged by terrorism.

Although we have differences on Syria, we have tried to decrease them and increase our commonalities, said the ambassador.

Concerning Syria, we both believe in the country’s stability and reject foreign interference there.

We believe the crisis in Syria does not have a military solution and Syrian people should be helped so that they can find a solution by themselves.

ISIL busy completing US policies in region, says Naqdi

On the other hand, Commander of Iran’s Basij (Voluntary Force) said here Wednesday that the terrorist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is a US and western protege, presently implementing Washington’s policies in the Middle East region.

‘The United States and the anti-ISIL coalition are pursuing other objectives on pretext of attacking the ISIL terrorist group, including destroying the Syrian infrastructures,’ said Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi on the sidelines of a commemoration service for a high-ranking IRGC official’s wife.

He said that by establishment of the ISIL the Americans pursued the objective of sowing the seeds of discord among communities, as well as presenting a harsh image of Islam and justifying the presence of the superpowers in the region.

The Basij commander, meanwhile, reacted to the British prime minister’s anti-Iranian comments.

‘Our country’s president acted very humbly in the meeting with that person,’ he said, adding, ‘(the British Prime Minister David) Cameron is a notorious criminal and the western governments are both illegitimate and unjust,’ he added.

Turning to the issue of arming the Palestinians in the West Bank, too, he said, ‘Their arming will be done. Everything will be done in their proper times.’

IRNA

R.S