Rouhani Urges Restraint in Turkey-Russia Row
TEHRAN (Dispatches) – Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday called for restraint after Turkey’s downing of a Russian bomber during the aircraft’s operations against terrorists in Syria.
The governments of Russia and Turkey should handle the issue "with insight and prevent the recurrence of such incidents through prudence and patience,” President Rouhani said during a cabinet meeting here.
On Tuesday, the Turkish military shot down a Russian Su-24M Fencer aircraft with two pilots on board, angering Moscow and dramatically escalating tensions in a region which is ablaze in raging flames of conflict.
The president also urged all countries to prepare for the battle against terrorism to establish stability in the region.
Rouhani warned against any "extremely dangerous” and "provocative” act, saying the consequences of such measures "legally rest with the initiator”.
"As far as our information indicate, this plane was targeted when operating in Syrian territory,” Iran’s official IRNA news agency quoted him as saying.
The president also called on Turkey to be seriously mindful of the tense situation in the region.
President Vladimir Putin of Russia described Turkey’s act as a "stab in the back, carried out by the accomplices of terrorists”. He said the aircraft was shot down over the Syrian territory with an air-to-air missile from a Turkish F-16 warplane.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that Turkey’s move looked "very much like a pre-planned provocation”.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif told Lavrov Turkey’s downing "sends the wrong message to the terrorists” in Syria.
"Such actions will lead to an escalation of the Syrian crisis and sends the wrong message to the terrorist groups,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hussein Jaber-Ansari said.
"Any measure that increases tensions and complicates the situation will be a wrong signal to the terrorists,” he said.
It makes them "believe they can continue their terrorist activities … by exploiting the division of views among the parties”.
According to the spokesman, Zarif stressed that the incident once again highlights Syria’s critical situation, the impact of developments in the Arab country on international peace and security, and the need for a united global front against terrorism.
"The foreign minister also reiterated that the success of anti-terror bids depends on the existence of a united regional and international will and determination in dealing with terrorism,” Jaber-Ansari said.
The governments of Russia and Turkey should handle the issue "with insight and prevent the recurrence of such incidents through prudence and patience,” President Rouhani said during a cabinet meeting here.
On Tuesday, the Turkish military shot down a Russian Su-24M Fencer aircraft with two pilots on board, angering Moscow and dramatically escalating tensions in a region which is ablaze in raging flames of conflict.
The president also urged all countries to prepare for the battle against terrorism to establish stability in the region.
Rouhani warned against any "extremely dangerous” and "provocative” act, saying the consequences of such measures "legally rest with the initiator”.
"As far as our information indicate, this plane was targeted when operating in Syrian territory,” Iran’s official IRNA news agency quoted him as saying.
The president also called on Turkey to be seriously mindful of the tense situation in the region.
President Vladimir Putin of Russia described Turkey’s act as a "stab in the back, carried out by the accomplices of terrorists”. He said the aircraft was shot down over the Syrian territory with an air-to-air missile from a Turkish F-16 warplane.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that Turkey’s move looked "very much like a pre-planned provocation”.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif told Lavrov Turkey’s downing "sends the wrong message to the terrorists” in Syria.
"Such actions will lead to an escalation of the Syrian crisis and sends the wrong message to the terrorist groups,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hussein Jaber-Ansari said.
"Any measure that increases tensions and complicates the situation will be a wrong signal to the terrorists,” he said.
It makes them "believe they can continue their terrorist activities … by exploiting the division of views among the parties”.
According to the spokesman, Zarif stressed that the incident once again highlights Syria’s critical situation, the impact of developments in the Arab country on international peace and security, and the need for a united global front against terrorism.
"The foreign minister also reiterated that the success of anti-terror bids depends on the existence of a united regional and international will and determination in dealing with terrorism,” Jaber-Ansari said.