Turkey Issues Strong Response to Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman’s Remarks
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman had stated that his country’s patience with Turkey has “limits.” In response, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry spokesman described these remarks as “unacceptable and incomprehensible” and called on Iran to reconsider its regional policy.
Husein Muftu-oglu, spokesman for Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, characterized the recent statements by his Iranian counterpart as “neither acceptable nor comprehensible.” Bahram Qassemi, spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, on Monday (Esfand 2 / February 20) described statements made by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan regarding Iran as “unfounded and irrelevant,” and stated: “Iran’s patience with Turkey has limits.”
Husein Muftu-oglu strongly criticized Iran hours after the release of these remarks and said: “It is neither acceptable nor comprehensible for a country that does not hesitate to send refugees seeking shelter to war zones to consider others as the cause of regional tensions and instability.”
According to Turkey’s Anatolia News Agency, the Foreign Ministry spokesman stated to journalists that Iran “must take constructive steps and, instead of blaming countries that criticize this country’s regional policies, should review its own policies.”
Verbal tensions between Iran and Turkey have increased significantly in recent days. Qassemi, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, had stated that his country hopes “Turkish officials will act with greater prudence in the rhetoric and statements they make regarding Iran, so as not to ultimately lead to our response.”
Summoning of Turkish Ambassador
Iran on Monday (Esfand 2) summoned Turkey’s ambassador to Tehran in response to statements made by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey’s president, and Mevlut Çavuşoğlu, Turkey’s foreign minister.
Erdoğan recently said during his visit to several Arab countries in the region: “We do not want to witness the partition of Syria. But you know there are those who, both in Syria and Iraq, are looking to exploit sectarian rifts.”
Turkey’s foreign minister also recently at the Munich Security Conference accused Iran of “interventionist actions” and strongly criticized the country for “promoting sectarianism.” Çavuşoğlu had stated that Iran “is trying to turn Iraq and Syria into two Shiite countries, which is dangerous.”
At the Munich Security Conference, Saudi Arabia and Israel also strongly attacked Iran’s policies. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister in his speech introduced Tehran as “the primary supporter of terrorism in the world and a cause of instability in the Middle East.” Israel’s defense minister also stated that Iran’s ultimate objective is to “weaken the Middle East and Riyadh.”
Source: DW
